GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Gwinnett County teachers are getting a bigger raise than expected. On Tuesday, July 5, the Gwinnett County Board of Education (BOE) held a special called meeting.
During the open session of the meeting, the Gwinnett County BOE voted to amend its Fiscal Year 2023 budget, explicitly increasing employee salaries.
The Gwinnett County Board of Education adopted the budget on June 16, 2022.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
Superintendent Dr. Calvin J. Watts recommended this action to the school board to reassess the amount of the cost-of-living increase for teachers based on updated information it received regarding Gwinnett County’s property tax digest.
The budget included a projected increase in the local property tax. The tax assessor’s office mailed approximately 294,000 annual assessment notices to residential and commercial property owners in late April. Roughly 83% of the notices informed owners the appraised value was adjusted for market conditions in response to the real estate market changes.
“Recently, the district received information that the county-wide digest would be increasing close to 25%. Our district would like to earmark some of these funds to revise the teacher salary schedule to remain competitive with other districts by increasing the cost-of-living adjustment from $2,000 to $3,000,” said Watts.
TRENDING STORIES:
- Former soldier charged in 1982 rape, murder of California 5-year-old abducted on way to school
- Video shows man violently attack woman at Clayton County Walmart on July 4
- Georgia Guidestones demolished after bombing damages mysterious monument
Watts said for non-teaching staff to remain competitive, they recommend increasing the cost-of-living for 2023 from 4% to 6%.
The board unanimously approved the changes and the salary increases will be reflected on the FY23 salary schedules.
This approval brings the starting salary for a new teacher in Gwinnett who holds a bachelor’s degree to $51,646. Last year, starting teachers in Gwinnett County Public Schools made $48,646.
This salary improvement adjusts the salaries for all teachers, including veteran Gwinnett teachers, by $3,000 over what they earned last year.
Eligible teachers will also earn a step increase. All classified staff positions will now start at a minimum of $13.77 per hour, with paraprofessionals’ starting pay increasing to $15.24 per hour.
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
IN OTHER NEWS:
©2022 Cox Media Group
