School Board To Consider Lowering Millage Rate

At the end of August, the Fannin County School Board will vote on whether to drop the current millage rate of 12.9 to 12.38 at the end of August.  At this time the Board will also vote on the Fannin County School System budget for the academic year 2016-2917. (click here to review budget).

The Board’s consideration of lowering the millage rate is due to the expected change in the 2016 Fannin County Tax Digest.  The 2015 Tax Digest adjusted net value is $1,205,958,493.  The anticipated adjusted net value for 2016 is $1,253,803,250, a positive difference of $47,844,757.  If the School Board maintains the millage rate at 12.9 for next year, then the School Board would, in effect, be increasing taxes.

The total budget estimate for academic year 2016-2017 is $33,361,363.  Approximately 87% of that is for salary and benefits (Fannin County School System is the largest employer in Fannin County). Money to run the Fannin County School System comes from a close to 50/50 split between county property taxes and funds from the state and federal governments.  For much of the past year, the system ran at 2% under-budget.  By the end of the fiscal year, the school system was running 4% under budget.

The school system does receive funds through E-SPLOST.  This money can only be used on capital projects like building renovations such as the new science labs at the high school, completed this summer, or the FCHS gymnasium, completed last school year.  This fall the system will begin building a new agriculture facility, which will also be open to use for community functions.  (read about agriculture facility here).

According to School Superintendent Mark Henson, E-SPLOST not only brings in money to pay for first-class facilities and technology for Fannin students, it frees up money that the schools can put into quality education programs.

One program that the school system wants to increase is pre-K.  This year is the first time Fannin County schools have offered pre-K.  The inaugural program is two classes at Blue Ridge Elementary School.  The school system hopes to have pre-K programs at East Fannin and West Fannin within a few years.  The  other publically-supported pre-K program in the county is Ninth District Opportunity Headstart/Pre-K in Mineral Bluff. It receives funding from the federal government.

The School Board will hold a special-called meeting on Tuesday, August 23^rd at 5:30 to hear public comments on the millage rate and 2016-2017 annual budget.