Clarke Co BOE schedules budget forums

The Clarke County School Board sets the dates for public hearings on the latest draft of a School District budget. They’ll be held May 28 and 30 and June 4.

From the Clarke Co School District…  

The Clarke County Board of Education recently gave tentative approval to a fiscal year 2020 budget of $164,699,956, based on the continuance of the tentative millage rate of 20 mills. As required by state law, the hearing schedule has changed to the dates below, due to the district’s millage rate being higher than the rollback rate – that is, the rate that would be used to produce the same amount of taxes collected last year. There is an expected increase of 7.40 percent for property taxes levied in 2019, and while the millage rate for the school district is to remain at the tentative 20 mills, this estimate would in effect increase overall collection by 1.378 mills.

These tax increase meetings below will be held in conjunction with budget hearings. Meetings will be held at the location listed below. There will be an opportunity for the public to ask questions and provide comments.

• Tues. May 28. Budget Hearing 5:30-6 p.m. Tax Increase meeting 6-7 p.m. 

205 Alps Road Athens, GA 30606.

• Thur. May 30. Budget Hearing 5:30-6 p.m. Tax Increase meeting 6-7 p.m. 

900 Gaines School Road Athens, GA 30605.

• Tues. June 04. Budget Hearing 5:30-6 p.m. Tax Increase meeting 6-7 p.m. 

HT Edwards, 400-1 Dearing Extension Athens, GA 30606.

Each year, the assessed value for taxable property in Athens-Clarke County is recalculated, and the board of tax assessors is required by law to reassess values based on fair market value. The proposed tax increase for a home with fair market value of $200,000 is approximately $96.46, and the proposed tax increase for non-homestead property with fair market value of $250,000 is approximately $137.80.

The Board is scheduled to give final approval to the proposed budget and millage rate at a board meeting June 13 at 6 p.m. at the CCSD Administrative Offices, located at HT Edwards, 400-1 Dearing Extension.

The Gainesville City School Board has given tentative approval to a $75.3 million school budget: the Board says the school district spending plan can be funded with Gainesville’s lowest property tax rate in twenty years.