Teacher Pay Raises Closer To Reality in Fulton Schools

JOHNS CREEK, GA -- On Thursday, the Fulton County School Board gave tentative approval to the fiscal year 2017 budget.

Thursday's approval is the first official step towards raises for teachers and staff for the 2016-17 school year.

Final approval for the budget is set for June 7.

“We’re pleased that this budget provides a way to reward our employees for their hard work while also funding the priorities of our strategic plan,” said Kenneth Zeff, interim superintendent.

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The budget also aims to keep tax rates the same for the upcoming fiscal year, the system said Thursday.

“Our school board continues to provide the highest level of fiscal accountability to our taxpayers by presenting a balanced budget,” School Board President Linda McCain added. “The millage rate is proposed to remain the same, which means no increase in school taxes for most property owners.”

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 planned for employees paid on the teaching salary schedule and a 3% raise is set for all other district staff.

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

Sixty-seven percent the $952 million budget is devoted to instruction, with the remaining 33 percent budgeted for student 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.

A break down of the fiscal year 2017 tentative budget:

• General Fund: $952,134,65
• School Nutrition Fund $42,078,921
• Debt Service Fund: $16,436,834
• Special Revenue Fund: $48,662,890
• Capital Program Fund: $252,489,588
• Pension Fund: $33,231,270
• Student Activity Fund: $16,459,736
• Total All Funds: $1,361,493,896

The proposed pay increases – currently the most competitive of any district in metro Atlanta – continue the school system’s sixth year of providing some level of increased compensation to employees. The 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.

In 2013, Fulton County Schools adopted a new budgeting approach, called “modified zero-based budgeting,” that closely aligns funding needs with the district’s priorities. The fiscal year 2017 budget was developed using this process and it required that the budget be developed from the bottom up and based on demonstrated need rather than just approving incremental increases or decreases.

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