County employees and public school teachers will be receiving a raise in the new fiscal year.
Funding for school programs and a raise for teachers were topics of debate late last month as the Russell County Board of Supervisors put together a budget for the new fiscal year, which began on July 1.
After finding ways to fund any program that may have been in jeopardy, it appeared as if the raises would not happen.
However, during the July 6 meeting of the board of supervisors, the proposed raises have become a reality.
In a letter to the board, Russell County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Kim Hooker asked the county for “…the reappropriation and reversion of $986,849.68 from the fiscal year 2026 budget back into the fiscal year 2027 budget.”
Hooker stated, “The primary intent for these reversion funds is to fully cover the required local match for proposed salary increases for both board of supervisors employees and school board employees. Investing in our workforce remains a top priority to ensure we attract and retain the high-quality staff our county deserves.”
The board voted to grant Hooker’s request with the exception of just over $165,000 that will go toward county employees’ pay.
In other action from the July 6 meeting, Swords Creek resident Danny Hess spoke about a proposed county wide forensic audit. “Last year you voted to raise our taxes and do an audit,” Hess said.
He added that his taxes went up $200 but the audit has not been conducted. “I would like my $200 back,” he said.
Two public hearings were scheduled for the August meeting. One public hearing will focus on the sale of Oak Grove Elementary School and the other will discuss the county’s tipping fee for trash.
