Public Hearings Today on Franklin BOE Millage Hike Proposal

The first two of three public hearings are set for today in Franklin County on a proposed school millage increase.

Hearings take place today at 11:30a and 6p at the School Administration office in Carnesville.

Franklin County’s Board of Education passed their fiscal 2015 budget at their June meeting by a vote of 4-1 with board member Kent Hall voting against.

The school board’s fiscal 2015 budget has expected revenue of $29,686,069 with expenses of $30,172,749.

To make up the $900,687 difference, the board is proposing a millage increase of 1.75 mils.  The current school millage in Franklin County is 16.868 mils.  If approved, the millage would be raised to 18.618 mils.

School superintendent Dr. Ruth O’Dell said the increase is needed to fund some of the things the board is putting back in the budget that have been taken out over the past several years due to austerity cuts at the state level and lower property tax revenues.

Since 2008, administrators have been cut 10 days, but the board voted to give back five days.  The board also voted to give back the responsibility supplement and give back half of the local supplement.

O’Dell said it’s been several years since teachers and staff have received any local supplement.  Adding back in the supplement comes to about $400,000 a year, O’Dell said.

She said not having a local supplement to offer teachers the past few years has made it hard to attract good teachers.

The board also voted to fill a number of positions, that O’Dell said are desperately needed.

O’Dell said earlier, the school system has had to use half of its $2-million reserve fund this school year to make ends meet and only about a million is left in the reserve fund.

O’Dell expects the school system will have to dip into that reserve fund next school year as well.

A third public hearing on the millage increase takes place July 17, after which the board is expected to vote to pass it.