Fulton Schools Budget Includes 5% Teacher Pay Raise

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JOHNS CREEK, GA -- The fiscal year 2017 superintendent’s proposed budget for the 2016-2017 school year was presented to Fulton County School Board on Thursday, giving these elected officials the opportunity to review the district’s funding priorities for the upcoming school year.

The proposed budget focuses heavily on employee compensation to ensure that schools are staffed with the most qualified teachers and support personnel. A 5-percent raise is proposed for employees paid on the teaching salary schedule and a 3-percent raise is proposed for all other district staff.

Those who teach special education, an area in high demand both locally and nationally, would receive an additional $3,000 supplement to their fiscal year 2017 salary. Eligible employees in the district also would receive a step increase as they transition to the new budget year.

“In this budget, Fulton County Schools continues to invest responsibly in its charter system while recognizing that our people are our most important asset,” said Kenneth Zeff, interim superintendent. “Our district leaders have been involved in an extremely arduous process we call Modified Zero-Based Budgeting. It prioritizes our funding needs based on those initiatives that meet our strategic plan goals of increased graduation rates and college and career readiness.”

Sixty-seven percent the $952 million budget is devoted to instruction, with the remaining 33 percent budgeted for pupil transportation, maintenance and operations, and other administrative functions. The budget also keeps class sizes the same and does not include any staff reductions or furlough days for employees. Other highlights include extended work calendars for counselors, social workers and psychologists and funding for flex positions at each elementary school.

The proposed pay increases – currently the highest for teachers of any district in metro Atlanta – continue the school system’s sixth year of providing some level of increased compensation to employees. The proposed budget also aims to keep the millage rate the same for the seventh consecutive year, maintaining the school board’s commitment to low property taxes. At 18.502, the combined millage rate continues to be the lowest in the metro Atlanta area.

Public hearings to allow feedback on the proposed budget are slated for next Thursday, April 21 at Asa G. Hilliard Elementary and on May 10 at the North Learning Center. Both will be held at 7 p.m.

The budget is expected to be tentatively approved May 19, with final adoption slated for June 7.

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