Budget season has officially ended for Atlanta Public Schools.
The Atlanta School Board on Monday approved a record $1.8 billion budget for fiscal year 2025. APS expects expenses to increase by about $86 million next year, due mainly to salary increases and new investments in student nutrition, a 7% increase from last year’s budget.
Here are some budget highlights:
Huge pay raise for teachers
The district plans to spend $58.9 million on salary increases, benefits and cost-of-living adjustments. APS teachers are expected to get an 11% pay raise, the largest in at least 15 years, the district said. Teachers will also get an additional $2,500 increase in the state’s fiscal year 2025 budget, which Gov. Brian Kemp signed in May.
Entry level teacher salaries start at $54,735, making the district one of the highest paying in the state.
Investing in reading instruction
The district plans to spend $11.8 million on literacy efforts and provide a literacy coach for every student in its 55 elementary schools, even though only 25% of eighth graders in the district will read at a proficient level by 2022, according to a National Assessment of Educational Progress report.
APS also plans to spend $9 million on special education services and $7.8 million on additional support level positions.
New In-House Nutrition Program
Currently, the district partners with Arizona-based Southwest Foodservice Excellence to provide breakfast and lunch to more than 40,000 students each day. But that’s about to change: APS plans to invest $15.4 million to create an in-house nutrition program, meaning the district will manage and operate its own food service instead of outsourcing to an outside company.
Tax rates remain unchanged for now
APS is proposing to keep the assessment rate at 20.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value. The assessment rate is the rate APS uses to calculate the amount of property taxes paid by residents who live in the school district.
The district lists strategic investments, continued improvements in resource utilization and the impact of unfunded obligations and lost revenue as principles when considering a tax rate increase.
Where can I find my budget information?
APS’ FY 2025 budget outline can be found below.
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