Gloucester County Public Schools Superintendent Walter Clemons presented his recommended fiscal year 2021 budget to Gloucester School Board members Monday and to county supervisors in a joint meeting Tuesday. Both meetings were held at the T.C. Walker Education Center. 
Clemons recommended a $7,040,779 increase in operating funds from the locality for FY21, raising the local contribution from $26,961,400 in the current budget to $34,002,179 in FY21.
The $7 million increase includes $2,377,816 in raises for teachers, representing an average increase of 7.25 percent for those on steps 0-30 on the salary scale and 6.6 percent on the 31st or higher steps. A step increase (1.6 percent) plus 4 percent is recommended for all other employees at a cost of $317,286.
The school division also faces a Virginia Retirement System rate increase of $320,484 and an anticipated increase of $1,754,616 in health insurance costs, representing an 18.8 percent hike. 
Clemons also recommended $71,102...