Forsyth school board gives first-round budget OK

Kristen Morrissey chairs the Forsyth County Board of Education, which this week tentatively approved the 2018 FY school district budget.

Kristen Morrissey chairs the Forsyth County Board of Education, which this week tentatively approved the 2018 FY school district budget.

Forsyth County Board of Education members are well on their way to having a 2018 FY budget in place, as they gave tentative approval to the plan recently.

The proposed operational budget of nearly $405 million provides for an unchanged mill level of 17.3. It also presumes a healthy growth in the district’s tax digest-8.3 percent is estimated at this point-with state revenue jumping by about 6 percent.

The budget contains a 2 percent raise for teachers and all certified and classified staff, and a step increase for eligible staffers. It also provides for nearly 140 new positions at schools with 27 of those slated as “growth positions” including bus drivers, mechanics and instructors.

The budget also provides for higher health insurance and teacher retirement system costs-with the latter growing nearly 18 percent.