First Reading of Proposed FY 23 GCS General Fund Budget

In a Special Called Meeting at the J. Floyd Hall District Office, the Greenville County Schools Administration presented its proposed FY 23 General Fund Budget for first reading.  A second and final reading of the $789,524,000 proposal is scheduled for June 6, at 6:30 p.m.  A public hearing at 6 p.m. to allow community members to comment on the budget proposal will precede that meeting.

Projected Revenue – Local Funding: Current local tax millage for the General Fund is 143.2. Per Act 388, no taxes are collected on owner-occupied homes to support the General Fund budget, but School Boards can raise millage on other property (businesses, cars, motorcycles, etc.) based on a formula built to meet inflation and population growth. Based on this formula, the GCS Board has the authority to raise millage 9.0 mills to meet inflation and growth for next year. Additionally, the Board has at its disposal an additional 14.9 mills in carryover from previous years, bringing to 23.9 mills the total taxing authority available for FY 23. Of those mills available to the Board, 5.7 are left over from FY20 and will lapse if not levied this year, due to a three-year expiration period included in the law. This budget includes a proposed increase of 4.5 mills. The proposed FY 23 General Fund Budget projects local revenue of $258,503,000, including the recommended 4.5 mill increase.

Projected Revenue – State Funding: A new education funding model is being proposed for South Carolina. The State Budget has not been finalized, and two proposals are currently working their way through the State legislature. There is a version that has been approved by the Senate, and another version that has been approved by the House. The final version of the budget will be determined by Conference Committee. The projected revenue from the state included in the first reading of the FY23 General Fund Budget is based on the Senate’s version of the budget, which is $365,832,000.

Expenditures – Notable new expenditures in the budget include:

• $2,000 increase to every cell on the GCS teacher salary schedule, which results in entry-level teacher salaries starting at $44,566
• A step increase for all teachers and adding a step for teachers at the top of the schedule
• All other eligible employees will receive a step. If the step is not valued at a minimum 3%, it will be adjusted to equal a 3% increase. Employees not eligible for a step will receive a 3% increase.
• Minimum entry level pay for any district jobs at $15.00/hour
• Final step of a multi-step process to move bus driver salary schedule to two rates
• Addressing the internal inequities of principal pay and external competitiveness of assistant principal pay
• First step of a multi-step process to decrease the student to counselor ratio at elementary level to 400:1
• Personnel for growth to meet the estimated increase of 1,200 students next school year
• Funding to meet the required employer costs related to healthcare and retirement for employees
• Funding to further enhance school security measures
• The expansion of the A.R.M.E.S. program

“This proposed budget reflects that our investment in student success is dependent on the teachers and other employees who are educating and supporting students each and every day. Public education is a critical component of a healthy society, and we need people to see that education is a profession that is not only rewarding but also allows them to support themselves and their families in this economy,” said Dr. Burke Royster, Superintendent of Greenville County Schools.

A complete list of proposed new expenditures is available below:

Potential Expenditures Due to State Mandates: The items shown below are mandated through legislation and total $21,515,000.

Additional Expenditures under Consideration: The following items totaling $45 million reflect priorities needed to meet local requirements of the Education Plan for FY 23.

Total Proposed Budget  – $789,524,000

Original source can be found here.