Greenville County Schools board adopts FY25 general fund budget, approves 1.5-mill increase and employee pay steps

The Greenville County Schools Board of Trustees approved the FY25 general fund budget following a public hearing and extended board debate, voting 8-4 to accept the administration's recommendation, which includes a 1.5-mill tax increase and step and salary adjustments for staff.

Dr. Royster presented the budget, saying pay and personnel account for the overwhelming share of the district's spending: "If you look at the '24 general fund budget, $795,800,000 goes to salaries and benefits," he said, outlining major allocations to teachers and aides and detailed proposals for the coming year. The recommended package includes a $2,700 increase to every step on the Greenville teacher salary schedule, an entry-level teacher salary set at $50,503, a district minimum hourly wage proposal of $16.08, a minimum 3.5% step increase for eligible nonteacher employees, and a 5% increase for nurses.

Why it mattered: teachers who spoke at the public hearing urged the board to approve the budget and the pay increases. "By supporting teacher salary raises, you contribute to a healthier, more prosperous, and more equitable society," said AJ Jeffcoat, a sixth-grade science teacher at Rudolph Gordon School, who asked trustees to approve the administration's proposal. Patty Stewart, an elementary art teacher with 19 years experience, told trustees teacher burnout and unfilled positions are disrupting instruction and urged additional substitute pay and hiring noncertified staff for noninstructional duties.

The board's debate focused on two linked questions: whether to adopt the full administration recommendation with a 1.5-mill increase to preserve the proposed raises and one-time initiatives, or to decline the mill increase and remove about $2.74 million of items from the budget. "We would recommend that item [permanent substitutes] be deleted" and other line-items removed if the board does not approve the millage, Dr. Royster said, listing several positions and program changes that would be cut to reach the target.

Several trustees pushed back. "That $2,742,000 amounts to only 0.3% of our total budget," said Trustee Cochran, arguing the board could find savings rather than raise taxes. Dr. Royster countered that using one-time fund balance to pay recurring costs creates a future gap: rolling this year's excess revenue into the budget would generate a corresponding hole in the subsequent year that the district would have to address either through steep cuts or larger tax increases.

Board members also pressed for technical clarifications. Trustees discussed the district's method for estimating the value of a mill (referred to in the meeting materials as the mill value or "meals" in the transcript), recent higher-than-expected tax collections and interest income, and why some summer-school offerings will be delivered online with regional labs rather than in-person at every school.

Vote and next steps: after discussion, the board moved to accept the administration's FY25 general fund budget. The roll-call vote was 8-4 in favor; the chair announced the motion carried and the budget was approved. The administration noted that payroll changes tied to the new budget will take effect on July 1 if implemented.

What was not decided here: trustees who voted against the measure emphasized a preference to hold the line on taxation or to find smaller cuts instead of increasing millage. The administration said it would provide a summary of alternative cuts if the board had chosen not to approve the millage increase.

Funding details and context: Dr. Royster said the district will continue to use fund balance for nonrecurring needs and capital acceleration (examples cited included LED lighting upgrades and school construction accelerations) while funding recurring employee compensation through ongoing revenue. He said the FY25 recommendation is designed to sustain Greenville County Schools' competitive pay ranking within the state while maintaining the district's reserves for cash flow and unavoidable costs.

The board moved on to adjourn shortly after the vote.