Gwinnett County Public Schools’ preliminary budget for the coming fiscal year is 2.7 percent bigger than the current one, $2.319 billion, up from $2.193 billion. Although property taxes would increase, the millage rate would stay the same at 19.80 mills.
Board members planned to discuss Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks’ has a recommendation in a work session Saturday.
Here are some highlights.
On the revenue side, state funds are expected to increase by $52.3 million, including:
• A projected increase of 446 students will produce additional state revenue of $7.7 million, and the state-funded portion of some teacher salary increases and additional teachers enrolled in the state health benefit plan will add $8.4 million.
• State-funded increases in the employer contribution to the Teachers Retirement Systems will equal $1.2 million.
• State-funded increases to the State Teacher Salary Schedule equal $41.4 million.
• Gwinnett will receive $4.4 million in an “equalization grant” to districts whose per-pupil property tax digest value is less than the statewide average. Gwinnett ranks 85th among Georgia’s 180 districts in property tax “wealth per student.”
The county’s property tax digest is expected to grow for the sixth consecutive year by 3 percent, generating an additional $21.4 million in property tax.
But costs also rise:
• Gwinnett’s will have to pay $10.8 million more in local funds under the state’s school funding formula.
• Adding 104 instructional and support positions to accommodate the 446 new students and the opening of one new school will cost approximately $8.1 million.
The school board is expected to adopt the tentative budget at the area board meeting for District II, 5:45 p.m. April 9 at Central Gwinnett High School, 564 W Crogan St, Lawrenceville.
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