Administrators with both the Carrollton City Schools District and Carroll County District say they are pleased to see heavy spending for education in Georgia Governor Brian Kemp’s fiscal year 2024 state budget proposal released on Friday.
Gov. Brian Kemp proposed increasing spending in the current budget year by $2.4 billion, largely to pay for two billion-dollar tax givebacks, and then to maintain spending in next year’s budget, funding $2,000 pay increases for all state and university employees and public school teachers.
“On average, teachers earn 25% less than what similar college-educated professionals earn and, with teacher shortages across the state, this will help us to attract and retain quality educators in our public schools,” Carrollton City Schools’ Supt. Mark Albertus told WLBB Radio. “Our teachers play a critical role in guiding and educating kids who are the future citizens and leaders of Georgia.”
“Our district is pleased with the proposed 2-thousand dollar raise for teachers,” Carroll County Schools Board Of Education Chairman, Bryant Turner said. “(If approved by legislators)…it will add to the two previous raises – totaling $5,000 that the governor and legislature approved during his first term of office. Additionally, we are excited to see that Governor Kemp’s proposed budget includes more money for school safety as well as money to fund additional counselors in our schools.”
Kemp would also end the two-tier system of HOPE scholarships starting next fall, paying full college tuition for every high school graduate with a B average instead. Since 2011, when Gov. Nathan Deal and lawmakers cut the lottery-funded program, only high school graduates with a 3.7 grade point average and high test scores qualify for full tuition. Regular HOPE recipients get 90% of tuition. Kemp said restoring full eligibility would cost $61 million more in lottery proceeds, saving the average student $444 a year.
