Taxpayers won’t see a rate hike to fund Whitfield County Schools, but they also won’t see their dollars go as far as before.
With the expectation of drawing $25 million from local property tax collections — about $2.6 million less than last year — Board of Education members on Monday voted to announce their intention to keep the property tax rate at $14.76 per $1,000 of value. Officials said the loss in revenue, which is based on projections, is $600,000 to $1.5 million more than they anticipated, but they expect to be able to absorb it with the school district’s fund balance, which was $6.8 million at the start of the fiscal year. The final vote on the property tax rate is expected during a meeting on Monday, Sept. 13, at 6:30 p.m. at the school system’s central office.
“We are not willing to pass on state neglect from the Legislature and the under funding of the (formula used to determine how much state money school systems receive) to the local taxpayer,” said board Chairman Tim Trew.
The board, with member Jerry Nealey absent, approved keeping the tax rate the same as it has been since 2008 when it brought in $27.9 million and in 2009 when it brought in $27.6 million. Superintendent Danny Hayes said school system personnel’s “tremendous job” of projecting the local funding decrease played a role in allowing the tax rate to remain the same.
Chief Financial Officer Kenny Sheppard said the school system earlier this year budgeted for an expected 8 percent decrease in the local tax base, but it came in as a 9.47 percent decrease.
“I’ll be honest with you, it was tough,” Sheppard said, adding he worked with the county tax assessor’s office in making the projections. “We thought 8 percent at the time was extremely conservative.”
The school system is expected to lose $822,000 because of property being assessed at lower values, $329,000 because of a 20 percent freeport tax break on business inventories and $55,000 because of an increase in the number of exemptions property owners are taking. The system is expected to lose another $1.4 million due to a reduction of inventory, machinery and automobile values not associated with a reassessment.
In May, board members approved cutting $13.4 million to reach a budget of $94.5 million. To do that, they scaled back several programs, cut more than 100 jobs and issued furloughs for all employees, with higher-paid employees generally having more furloughs than lesser-paid employees.
One major reason for the budget reductions of the last two years are state funding cuts — about $30 million from 2003 to 2010. Officials on Monday didn’t identify any additional reductions, but Sheppard said the school system will continue to look for ways to save.
“We’ll have to continue to tighten our belts and look for opportunities to preserve what we have in our budget,” he said.
What’s not known is what officials will do when the current fiscal year ends on June 30, 2011, and there is only $1.7 million left in the fund balance. Monthly operating expenses are close to $7.9 million. If needed, the school board could issue a tax anticipation note and take out a short-term, low-interest loan to help bridge that gap until tax collections come in.
“I think it is premature to assume that we will need a tax anticipation note next fiscal year; however, if the budget proves to be 100 percent accurate, then a tax anticipation note would be a possibility,” Sheppard said.
Trew said that decision will fall to next board, including three newly elected members who take office in January.
“Our budget is a good budget,” said Trew, who ended up not running for re-election after initially qualifying for the race. “... Next year won’t be my ball to carry.”
Education
Property tax rate to stay flat for Whitfield schools
- Education
-
-
Dalton schools budget draws almost $2 million from reserves
Dalton School Superintendent Jim Hawkins, left, speaks as board of education members Danny Crutchfield and Rick Fromm listen during a six-hour board meeting retreat. Matt Hamilton/The Daily Citizen
Dalton Public Schools Superintendent Jim Hawkins said he’s no longer expecting a big economic bounce back to solve the school system’s budget concerns.
Continued ... -
Northwest students place high, take tech to next level
Several Northwest Whitfield High School students placed high in the Sequoyah Regional Georgia Educational Technology Fair.
Continued ... -
Dalton student on GPS May Court
Christian Bryant of Dalton has been elected to the May Court at Girls Preparatory School and will serve as crown bearer to the May Queen during the May Day festivities in April.
Continued ... -
Northwest Whitfield High School Sweetheart Court
Northwest Whitfield High School's Tip Off Club hosted the 2012 Sweetheart Dance at the school recently.
Continued ... -
Art student’s work on exhibition
Gary Sanchez Soto will represent Murray County High School in “An Artistic Discovery: The Congressional Art Competition” at the Derrell C. Roberts Library on the campus of Dalton State College.
Continued ... -
Professor to speak on the Oscars during 'Lunch & Learn' program
Jonathan Lampley, assistant professor of English at Dalton State, will present “The Oscars: Winners, Losers, and Weird Moments” in the College’s James E. Brown Center, room 105, on Feb. 15 from noon to 1 p.m.
Continued ... -
Local high schools recognized for AP classes, exams
State School Superintendent John Barge named several local high schools as Advanced Placement (AP) Honor Schools.
Continued ... -
The Perfect Polish
Cosmetology and Skills U.S.A. at North Murray High School recently sponsored a community service project in which Donna Blankenship’s students gave manicures to the residents of the Murray County Senior Center.
Continued ... -
MCHS accepts letterman's jacket
James “William” Butler’s family presented his letterman’s jacket to Murray County High School Principal Gina Linder during halftime of a varsity boys’ basketball game recently. The jacket, which has a “1962 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP” patch on it, will be displayed in the school’s trophy case. Presenting the jacket to Linder were Butler’s nieces, Chloe Brown and Ashley Strong; his wife, Patsy Butler; his daughter, Robin Baggett; and his grandchildren, Jaden and Janna Baggett.
Continued ... -
Mountain Creek Academy honors December teacher of the month
English teacher Jennifer Weninger (center) was selected by her peers as December’s Teacher of the Month at Mountain Creek Academy. Principal Paula Martin (right) and Curriculum Instructor Facilitator/Counselor Jennifer Lents presented her with the award.
Continued ... -
Mountain Creek Academy honors December staff of the month
Mountain Creek Academy Lisa Sanford, center, accepts a certificate from Principal Paula Martin and Counselor Jennifer Lents (left) as she is recognized with a December Staff of the Month award. Sanford has worked at Mountain Creek for 12 years.
Continued ... -
Med students visit Murray High
In December, students from Murray County High School and North Murray High School were invited to meet with fourth-year medical students Allen Ligon of Augusta and Heath Petty, an MCHS graduate.
Continued ... -
Gladden honors December student of the month
Joey Ecklebarger is the December 2011 Gladden Middle School Student of the Month. Joey is motivated and puts forth great effort in all classes. His behavior and attitude towards school, other students and teachers is also outstanding. Sean Hammond, Joey’s social studies teacher says of Joey, “He is great to have on our team.”
Continued ... -
Coker honors students for Week 14 good behavior
As part of Coker Elementary School’s PBIS or Positive Behavioral and Interventions Support system, students that follow the school expectations are recognized each week for their Great Behavior.
Continued ... -
Gladden students use Facebook in lessons
Gladden Middle School eighth-grader Shaley Stafford shows her Facebook page model on the book “Alice in Wonderland.” Eighth grade reading teacher Keith Rollins had his students choose a book from the library to do a book report on. However, this was not an ordinary book report. After the students read their book, they were to do their report by making a Facebook page about their book.
Continued ...
-
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria
Romney Slams President Obama at CPAC
Gingrich: Pres. Obama 'waging War on Religion'
5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La.
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
