Cobb Schools Budget Proposes 4-8 Percent Raise For Most Employees

COBB COUNTY, GA — All full-time employees of the Cobb County School District could see a raise coming in July.

The district's proposed fiscal year 2022 budget will include between 4 percent and 8.6 percent raises for all non-temporary employees, Superintendent Chris Ragsdale announced Thursday — including bus drivers, custodians, educators and food service workers.

The raises, if approved by the district Board of Education in June, will go into effect in July for the 2021-22 school year. The district is able to provide the raises through "sensible budgeting and financial management, coupled with some of the lowest administrative costs in the state," according to a news release.

Administrative costs in Cobb Schools are $177 per student, which is lower than any other district in the metro by as much as $131 per student.

"Not only does our team need it financially, but they need it for morale. We have a tremendous team in this district and every team member has gone above and beyond all year," Ragsdale said in the release. "We are not using any CARES funds to make this raise happen and, due to wise financial planning and forecasting, we are once again able to give our staff a significant raise, while also prioritizing students."

The raises are in addition to any experience-based raises for eligible salaried employees, which take place annually, according to Brad Johnson, the district's chief financial officer.

The board will vote on the proposed budget at its June 10 meeting. If approved, employees can expect the raises to take effect at the start of the next fiscal year, which is July 1.

The raise comes on the heels of the $1,000 bonus that Gov. Brian Kemp and State Superintendent Richard Woods announced earlier this year. Cobb Schools announced in April that the district would extend the bonus to all Cobb staff.

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