The Monroe County Community School Corporation adopted the district’s budget for 2023, which will be nearly $15 million more than last year’s.
The budget adopted is $157,833,564. The biggest increases in spending will come from the referendum fund and debt services, though the most money overall goes to the education budget category.
The debt service budget pays for bonds the school takes out to pay for needs over time. The education budget gets spent on pay and benefits for teachers and building administrators.
Read: MCCSC to issue bond for technology improvements, more buses
Last year, the referendum fund, going off what was passed in 2016, was budgeted for $11,740,110.
City Limits: MCCSC looking to generate $15.5 million in largest local referendum yet
The board adopted the referendum fund at $17,500,000 for 2023 and is counting on Monroe County voters passing it next month.
Planned increases in spending supported by the referendum will be focused on teacher and staff salaries.
Should the referendum pass in November, MCCSC will give its teachers a $4,500 salary increase.
The minimum hiring rate for MCCSC staff is $13.15 and will go up to $15.40 if the referendum passes. Superintendent Jeff Hauswald said then raises are needed to keep up with market rate and prevent further staff shortages.
If voters don’t vote the referendum through, MCCSC says it will have to cut positions.
MCCSC adopted the budget taking the referendum into account based on state policy for local education funding, according the MCCSC’s director of operations John Kenny. If the referendum doesn't pass, the state will subtract the planned $17,500,000 from the district’s submitted plan.
