DALTON, Ga. — State funding for Dalton Public Schools will increase by nearly $2.3 million to fund $3,000 pay raises for teachers and other certified staff, according to a draft fiscal year 2020 budget presented to the Board of Education Monday night.

“State funding is the most exciting part of this budget,” said Chief Financial Officer Theresa Perry.

The state budget approved by the legislature earlier this year provides funding for a $3,000 pay increase for teachers, counselors and other certified personnel.

In an appearance in Chatsworth last week, Gov. Brian Kemp called the increase a “healthy down payment” on his promise of a $5,000 raise for the state’s public school teachers.

Fiscal year 2020 starts July 1.

The budget calls for $84.9 million in spending, up from $81 million in the fiscal 2019 budget. It anticipates $83.6 million in revenue, up from $80 million in the 2019 budget. The school system will reach into its fund balance to cover the difference. The budget forecasts ending the 2020 fiscal year with a fund balance of $16 million.

The property tax rate would remain at 8.2 mills for the sixth year in a row. The budget projects that tax rate would bring in $31.909 million, up from $30.374 million thanks to growth in the tax digest.

But Perry said the school system won’t know for sure how much that tax rate will bring in until it receives a certified tax digest from the Whitfield County tax assessors office, which will likely happen in July.

“As of right now, we anticipate keeping the same millage rate,” said board Chairman Rick Fromm. “We will be evaluating that as more information comes in, and we will not actually set the millage rate until August.”

Board Vice Chairman Matt Evans said the board members will consider an 8.15 tax rate “to see what impact that has on our immediate goals and our long-term goals.”

In addition to the state pay increase, the budget would add eight new special education teachers: two each at Park Creek School and Westwood School and one each at Blue Ridge School, Brookwood School, City Park School and Dalton Middle School.

Board members held a public hearing on the proposed budget Monday night but no members of the public spoke. They are scheduled to hold another public hearing on May 13 before giving tentative approval to the budget. They are expected to give final approval to the budget in June.