Stephens County BOE Considers Topping Off Millage Rate

By Charlie Bauder, WNEG Radio, Toccoa

The Stephens County Board of Education is proposing to cap out the millage rate at the state maximum of 20 mills to help deal with a multi-million dollar budget shortfall.

During a called meeting Monday morning, the school board voted 6 to 1 to approve a tentative millage rate of 20 mills.

Previously, a majority of board members had expressed an interest in only raising it to 19.4 mills.

Board member Tony Crunkleton said lowering the number of work days that staff would lose is one reason he would consider going to the 20-mill cap.  He said another has to do with possible help from the state.

Stephens County School Superintendent Bryan Dorsey first brought up the possibility of getting help from the state.

Dorsey said going to 20 mills would be the only way to have that chance, but it’s not guaranteed.  Dorsey said his research showed the state would not even consider assistance if the school system did not cap out the millage rate because the school system would have not done everything it could do at that point.

While the majority of the board Tuesday voted to go to 20 mills, Board of Education Chair Dr. Elizabeth Pinkerton voted against it, saying it is too much of a burden on the taxpayer.

Based on information he provided to the Board of Education on Thursday, Dorsey says capping the millage rate at 20 mills would also require a reduction of 11 work days to find the estimated $2.7 million that is projected to be needed to both balance the Fiscal Year 2015 budget and pay back the estimated deficit in the school system’s fund balance.

Dorsey said to reduce the number of work days lost below 11 significantly would require a reduction in force and possible program elimination.

The Stephens County Board of Education will finalize any reduction in work days or other cuts when it eventually approves a Fiscal Year 2015 budget.