The proposed budget totals $217.5 million - an increase of $17 million over this year's spending plan.
Schools Superintendent Will Schofield said Thursday the budget includes funding for 83 new teachers and an $800,000 increase in the amount set aside for diesel for buses.
Schofield offered this breakdown:
Cost Increases:
1) $5.6 Million - 83 additional teachers to deal with student growth, 25 additional special education positions and the opening of our 34th school on Union Church Road. The average salary of a Hall County teacher is now approximately $52,000. Additionally it cost the school system an additional $19,000 per teacher in associated benefits.
2) $5 Million - State raises for certified employees. We applaud the state for raising teacher salaries. However, with 2,000 certified employees, this raise and the associated benefit costs are substantial. It is worth remembering that the state does not pay the associated 35 percent of benefit cost associated with any salary raise.
3) $3 Million - New science textbooks, additional mathematics texts and resources, additional technology in schools and additional early literacy materials
4) $1.5 Million - The projected costs of opening an additional 900-student elementary school on Union Church Road
5) $800,000 - Additional cost of diesel fuel
6) $200,000 - Additional safety measures. SRO raises, security cameras for elementary schools and ID badges for all high school students
7) $1 Million - 2.5 percent raise and benefit costs for classified employees of Hall County Schools
8) $800,000 - First year payment of purchase of 23 additional school buses
9) $75,000 - Additional system property insurance premium costs
10) $300,000 - Additional cost of natural gas, electricity, water and garbage removal
11) $1.5 Million - Continued "Austerity Cuts" from the state, which now have reduced state revenues approximately $20 million since 2003
Cost Reductions:
"Every year, we spend a great deal of time evaluating the value add of each budget item," Schofield said. "At last count, we had downsized our initial budget requests in over 30 categories totaling nearly $3 million. It is also noteworthy that our budget reflects an actual decrease in total expenditures in the area of general administration."
FY 2009 Millage Rate:
The proposed FY 09 budget will call for a millage rate of 16.53 versus the current year 15.75 mills. This reflects a millage rate increase of 4.95 percent.
Reserve Fund Balance:
"We anticipate a reserve fund balance at the end of FY 2009 of $7.5 million, a $500,000 decrease from our projections this current year," Schofield said.
A series of three public hearings are planned, starting next week, on the proposed budget and tax rate. They will be held at the Hall County School System Offices at 711 Green Street, according to the following schedule:
Monday, June 2, 2008 at 11:30 a.m.
Monday, June 2, 2008 at 4:30 p.m.
Monday, June 9, 2008 at 6 p.m.
The school board expects to take official action to set the millage rate at its June 9 regular meeting, which begins at 5:30.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2008/5/210390