Greenville county teachers get raise after tax hike approved

GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) – Teachers in Greenville County Schools will be paid a starting salary of $40,000 – the highest out of any school district in South Carolina – after school board members unanimously approved a 6-mill tax increase.

Under the $668.4 million budget, teachers would get a 5% to 10% raise and reduced class sizes while adding counselors at the middle and high school levels.

Also included is a minimum 4% salary increase for support personnel, including principals, nurses and aides and district-level administrators.

The Greenville News reports the tax increase would generate about $8.1 million and affect local bills for vehicles and businesses but not owner-occupied homes.

Officials say, the owner of a $10,000 vehicle would pay $3.60 more a year while owners of a $100,000 business would pay $31.68 more annually.