The Leon County School Board has passed a $531 million dollar budget for the current school year. Funding for district employees is up over last year. Superintendent Rocky Hanna explained some of that increase is to account for new programs and raises.
"The million dollars for the arts and athletics, it’s already in there; the raises for all of our blue collar workers, the increase from $9.50 to $11 an hour for minimum wage; the security monitors at all of our schools; the school behavior specialists for all of our elementary schools," Hanna said at Tuesday night's meeting.
Money has been set aside for teacher raises, but the amount has not yet been negotiated. The district was legally required to advertise a tax increase. But that’s due to increased property values and revenue, despite a decrease in millage rate.