The Gloucester School Board met last Thursday night at the T.C. Walker Education Center to continue its discussion on the division’s FY 2023 budget.

Superintendent Dr. Walter Clemons and Heather Lucas, chief financial officer for the school district, spoke on the superintendent’s recommended FY23 budget to the school board.

Lucas began the budget work session by listing several funds and the recommended budget for those funds, which included $71,469,461 for Operating; 3,075,279 for Central Food Service; and $3,796,460 for Debt Service. The presentation also included a recommendation of $15,500,000 for Capital Improvement, which reflects the request to use the estimated additional sales tax revenue towards the Gloucester High School renovation project.

Another budget consideration presented at the meeting was creating a competitive employment package addressing both compensation and benefits.

According to Lucas, the proposal includes a 5.9 percent scale and step increase fo...