IF YOU GOThe Board of Education will meet Thursday for a public hearing at 6 p.m. followed by a called board meeting. The meeting will be at Dade County Schools central office at 52 Tradition Lane, Trenton, Ga. For more information, call 706-657-4361.PROPOSED INCREASE IMPACTThe millage rate is applied per $1,000 of taxable property.* 12.42: Current* 12.92: Proposed* $19: Additional annual tax on $100,000 home* $200,000: Estimated revenue producedSource: Dade County Schools
A half-mill property tax increase could be approved by the Dade County school board Thursday in an attempt to boost funding for the cash-strapped district.
The hike is up for a third public hearing before board members cast votes on the proposed increase.
Ben Hill, owner of a local accounting firm and a lifelong resident of Dade, said officials should look for savings elsewhere before hiking taxes amid the job losses that have plagued county residents over the past couple of years.
“I don’t think that this school system has tightened their belt in the manner that they should have tightened,” said Hill, 65. “It’s just spend, spend, spend.”
He suggested officials study Chattooga County’s switch to a four-day school week to cut transportation and utility costs. Chattooga officials estimate the schedule, approved last month in a 3-2 decision, will save about $260,000, though one official was worried about the impact of long school days on young children.
But system money problems arise from more than operating costs, Dade Schools Superintendent Patty Priest said.
Priest said the proposed increase from 12.42 to 12.92 mills per $1,000 of taxable property would produce another $200,000 annually for the school system. That is a fraction of the $1.5 million in state cuts the system endured over the past two budget cycles, she said, but it could help avoid borrowing money to operate.
The proposed tax hike follows a number of recent cost-saving moves such as cutting the school year by five days, furloughing teachers for seven days and administrators for 10, she said.
On Aug. 4, board member Ronnie Page cast the lone no vote on the budget containing the proposed tax increase, but he could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.
Board Chairwoman Carolyn Bradford said the increase must be passed to avoid worsening the system’s financial problems. Without the increase, the school system might be forced to borrow money to make payroll until state funding is allocated for the fiscal year, Bradford said.
It’s likely the state Legislature will slice away more money during more midterm cuts this winter, she said.
“Next year, the budget looks even worse,” she said.