The Fulton County Board of Education’s tentative 2025 budget will have pay increases and step increases for eligible employees to keep pace with inflation, according to a school official.
The school district’s Chief Financial Officer Marvin Dereef confirmed to Rough Draft Atlanta that the $2.3 billion annual budget includes $56 million for 4.5 percent pay increases and step increases. It also increases the employer contribution costs for retirement and health care benefits as the state mandates.
The school district made plans for the end of federal COVID-related funding to keep programs designed to help students recover or accelerate their learning by putting $24.4 million in the tentative budget for the Instructional Coaches and Summer Learning programs.
Instructional coaches assist teachers with lesson plan development, instructional strategy modeling, and facilitating professional development. Instructional coaches also work directly with students, Dereef said.
“Instructional coaches are a vital support for teachers. Their expertise and function lift academic impact. Summer Learning is a crucial program for students who need just a little more time to master the standards and skills,” he said.
The millage rate proposed was 17.13 for the 2025 property tax year, which he said was one of the lowest school property taxes in the metro area.
The board is expected to finalize the adoption of its budget on June 11. Millage rate adoption will follow public hearings in July. However, that is contingent on the availability of the tax digest.
The 2025 tentative budget includes the following funds:
- General Fund, $1,422,055,825
- School Nutrition Fund, $57,085,647
- Special Revenue Fund, $92,314,586
- Capital Program Fund, $660,668,166
- Pension Fund, $42,099,757
- Student Activity Fund, $19,255,290
- Total appropriation for all funds, $2,293,479,271
Details of the budget and the five-year capital program can be found online in the FY2025 Budget Book.
An interview of Dereef with Superintendent of Schools Mike Looney also has been posted online.
