Teachers To Receive Raises

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter
Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah.  May 17, 2017 The preliminary budget for 2017/18 was discussed at the Rich School Board meeting.  There will be a 4% increase in salaries for teachers with a 7.5% increase for health insurance costs.  They will also offer 4 additional teacher in-service days.  Beginning teacher salary is now at $41,000 plus benefits which is about the same as some Salt Lake districts.  Park City is offering a beginning wage of over $50,000.

Certified employees will receive a 4% raise and the district would make up the health insurance increase differential. 

There will be an increase in the voted leeway which will require truth in taxation notices.  But even though the district will increase taxes the overall rate will not go up.  It is a shift of taxes.   In June the actual estimate of property valuation will come in.  If there is a lot of new growth, a primary home of $200,000 value will have a tax increase of $7 per year and a secondary home $13.  The tax increase will be larger if there is not a lot of new growth.  Because other school taxes are dropping, whatever increase in one tax will be made up by the drop in another.

Board member Bryce Huefner said that in the audit meeting the board was informed that the district spent over $200,000 more than funding.  One of the reasons for raising fees as well as taxes is to not make more debt for the district.   

Truth in taxation hearings will be in August.  The dates of the hearings will be published in newspapers, and will also be in tax notices. 

The June 21 meeting will follow the budget hearing which will be at 6:30 p.m. in Randolph.