Hamilton County Board of Education chair Tucker McClendon wants to give a one-time bonus of $500 to all of the school system's full-time employees and contract bus drivers, as well as a $250 bonus to part-time employees. But many board members are concerned with the $2.8 million cost that would come out of the school system's fund balance.
McClendon said in a memo to the board he is requesting the bonuses "due to the rise in inflation and continued rise in gas prices."
The proposed bonuses would go to all classified and certified staff as well as to school nutrition workers and school-age child care employees. Employees who worked for the system Jan. 1 and are still employed would receive the payments.
Bus drivers would receive $500 per route.
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School board representative Jenny Hill of North Chattanooga pointed out during Monday's board agenda session that the equation used to compensate bus drivers for fuel already takes increased fuel costs into account.
"It's taking into consideration retention of bus drivers and the work they've done for us for the past couple of years," Superintendent Justin Robertson said of the intention behind the bonuses for bus drivers, who were not included when similar bonuses were given to other employees in the past.
"Once the $500 is spent, or in our case the $2.8 million is spent, inflation is still going to be there," Hill said. "I question the usefulness of this $2.8 million spend."
Board member James Walker, who represents Ooltewah and Harrison, said he finds it difficult to spend millions on one-time bonuses when the money could be used to fund longer-lasting improvements, such as the repairs to sports facilities that board member Karitsa Jones, who represents Brainerd and Tyner, advocated for in her district.
"I really like the idea of being able to do this, but really, inflation hasn't hit school employees any more than it has anybody else," said Rhonda Thurman, who represents Soddy-Daisy and Sale Creek. "Inflation's going to hit us here at the school system as well, and we might need that money for something that we absolutely have to have it for."
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Board member Marco Perez, who represents Signal Mountain and Red Bank, said he's aware of inflation and rising costs, but questioned where the idea for the bonuses originated and why they are being proposed now.
Robertson said the system gave a similar bonus to employees last fall using grant money from pandemic relief funds. A second round of bonuses was proposed at that time, and now seemed like a good time to raise the issue again, he said.
Perez said he would like to know whether the county anticipates an increase in revenue from sales and property taxes.
Even if revenues increase, the cost of goods and services are likely to go up as well, said Hill, who approves purchases weekly for the city of Chattanooga as a member of the City Council. She said she has seen the cost of goods and services increase by as much as 85%, and a 10-20% increase is the norm.
When Walker asked if the board could give bonuses to only lower-paid employees, such as those who make less than $50,000, Robertson said the decision on who gets a bonus is up to the board.
If the board approves the resolution Thursday, "all efforts will be made to direct deposit bonuses prior to spring break," which is scheduled to begin April 11.
Contact Emily Crisman at ecrisman@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6508.