Jefferson City school board approves salary raises, additional staff positions in preliminary budget

The Jefferson City Public Schools Board of Education approved a preliminary budget Monday for the 2017-18 school year.

Compared to the current school year, JCPS expects to get $1.4 million in additional revenue and have nearly $1.3 million in additional expenses.

One of the biggest differences in the preliminary budget from the current school year is more than $1 million in salary increases for teachers and other staff members.

The board approved a 1.8 percent raise for the 750 teachers in the district, which happens each year to adjust for inflation.

However, all administrators in the district’s central office, or JCPS headquarters, will not get raises next school year, which will be the first time those positions will not see an annual raise. That will save the district about $30,000.

Also new in next year’s budget: The district plans to hire four full-time employees at Thomas Jefferson Middle School because of increased enrollment. JCPS plans to hire five additional instructional coaches at the elementary school level as well.

But balancing the increased expenses listed above, the district expects to get about $1 million in additional funds from property taxes and another $400,000 in state sales tax collections.

“One of the things that’s helping drive state sales tax is, starting in February, Amazon is collecting sales tax, so they think that’s going to be a little bit of a boost in that area,” said Jason Hoffman, the district’s chief financial officer.

The board is set to vote on the final budget for the 2017-18 year in June.