The Spartanburg District Five Schools Board of Trustees unanimously approved a $78 million ($78,002,170) budget for the 2016-17 fiscal year Monday evening. The budget reflects a 7.79 percent increase over the previous year.
For the 7th consecutive year, the board passed a budget without raising the millage rate for District Five taxpayers.
The absence of a tax increase is notable, particularly, as District Five continues to face rising enrollment, district officials mentioned.
Significant highlights include:
• 32.5 additional positions (certified and non-certified) to accommodate district growth (10.5 of these positions will specifically provide support for special education students)
• An estimated $1.6 million allocated for technology in the classroom, as the District prepares to go 1:1 in grades 3rd-8th this year
• 2 percent salary schedule increase for District employees, the first in four years.
“I am grateful that our board saw our needs, and passed this budget,” says Superintendent Dr. Scott Turner. “For the seventh straight year, we were able to approve a budget without raising the millage for taxpayers, a task that is becoming more difficult as we deal with the pressures of rapid student enrollment increases and building needs.”