Officials with Hall County Schools Monday night presented a balanced FY 2024 budget with expenditures of over $23 million for staff raises and insurance premiums.
The revenue for Hall County Schools came in at a projected value of $336.4 million, which is approximately $46 million more than FY 2023. The jump is attributed to increases in state and local sources, as well as investment income, according to school officials.
The fiscal year 2024 projections were all made under the assumption that the millage rate will stay the same. Officials anticipate the recommendation of a lower millage rate and plan to utilize portions of the reserve fund to make up the difference. That said, board member Mark Pettitt noted during Monday’s HCSB work session that reserve funds will not be used should the millage rate remain the same.
Projected expenditures for the budget came in at $340.3 million, which was an overall increase of $33 million from FY 2023. That hike in spending is due to several factors, including raises for many Hall County Schools certified staff.
Earlier this year, Gov. Brian Kemp proposed a $2,000 pay raise for teachers in the Peach State, which was passed by House leaders and takes effect July 1. That pay increase is impacting the pocketbook of Hall County Schools to the tune of $5.36 million, as presented in the FY 2024 budget proposal.
“Everything is costing more,” Hall County Superintendent Will Schofield said. “And I think any of us who have been to the grocery store or the gas station or had to pay rent already knew that. But just the increase in health insurance premiums alone will be $14 million this year. The $2,000 raise for certified employees, the $1,000 [raise] for our classified employees — and my goodness, how we know they need it.”
The total amount projected to be spent on step raises for classified and certified staff is $3.09 million. The flat $1,000 classified staff raise is projected to total $1.15 million. Expenditure increases in transportation and facility management came in at a proposed $3 million and CARES Learning and Loss positions landed at approximately $7 million.
“From a positive standpoint, for the budget, we're in the strongest position the school district has ever been, we've got a significant amount of money in the bank, and we've got a lot of construction going on providing some new spaces,” Schofield said.
Schofield went on to affirm the board's plan to adopt a fully balanced budget later this month.
The Hall County School Board traditionally conducts three separate public hearings before adopting the budget, allowing county residents to ask questions to officials prior to the kickoff of FY 2024. The first public hearing followed Monday night’s regularly scheduled work session.
The next public hearing for the proposed FY 2024 budget will be on June 26 at 11:30 a.m. The third hearing will be that same day at 6 p.m. at the Hall County School District office.
Following the final hearing, the board will vote and officially adopt the budget and county millage rate.
