By KERI CHAMPION

Staff Reporter

HAHNVILLE- St. Charles Parish schoolteachers will receive a $1,000 one-time salary adjustment due to a surge in revenue generated from a increased sales tax revenue in the parish, said James Melohn, comptroller for St. Charles Parish Public Schools.

There is about a $5 million difference in sales tax revenue for the schools compared to last fiscal year.

&#8220Sales tax is like a roller coaster, it goes up and down so you don’t depend on non-recurring revenue for recurring expenses,” Melohn said.

&#8220The increased sales tax revenue is due to the large number of people we had come in after Katrina,” said Steve Sirmon,” spokesperson for St. Charles Parish Council. &#8220The parish allots 3 percent of sales tax revenue to the school system.”

The board has granted $1,000 each to approximately 1600 fulltime employees for last fiscal year, for a total of about $1.6 million.

&#8220Usually with one time funding like this, the board recommends the money be used for school improvements like upgrading facilities and buildings,” Melohn said. The board has set aside $2 million for these improvements and board members have selected a committee of community members to recommend facility improvements.

&#8220The board members submitted names of non-employees of the system so they could get another viewpoint and set of eyes so schools would get what they need,” said Melohn.

The community committee has already been chosen and the next meeting is on Friday, September 1.

The remaining balance will be used for other projects and ongoing initiatives, including a three-phase Physical Education program.