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By Editor Becky Watts
ZEBULON - The Pike County Board of Education has voted to raise the millage rate for its 2021 fiscal year budget. This milage rate will require an increase in property taxes by 5.9% percent over the rollback rate.
The proposed increase will result in a millage rate of 16.933 mills which is an increase of .95 mills. Without this tentative tax increase, the millage rate will be no more than 15.983 mills.
Details About This Proposed Increase
This would result in an increase of $57 for a home with a fair market value of $150,000 and an increase of $38 for a non-homestead property with a fair market value of $100,000. Several daytime and evening meetings were held in which this change was discussed.
During these discussions, it was noted that Quality Basic Education Act (QBE) Fundng was reduced by 8% which is $1,705,319. Budget expenditures in Pike County increased less than 2% over FY20 ($553,320). Teacher step pay increases are included. Four additional teachers have been hired.
There will be a $76 per year increase for homes with a value of $200,000. This will be a .95 Mill increase that will yield an additional $524,641 over rollback rate. Fund Reserves will be used to offset portion of cut revenues in the amount of $910,000. And there will be no furlough days for teachers and staff.
To find out more about QBE funding in the state of Georgia, click here.
Notes from Board of Education Meetings
From the July 21, 2020 meeting minutes:
A Regular Called Meeting was held on July 21, 2020 in which this budget was presented and questions were asked. [Note from the Editor: The minutes did not say how many citizens were there, but Pike County Times was advised that there were very few.] The following is from those minutes:
“Director of Finance Debbie Woerner gave an update on the FY21 Draft Budget. QBE state funding was initially projected to be cut by 14%, but the final allocation represents an 8% cut for the Pike County School District. FY21 M&O revenues will increase as a result of the county’s re-evaluation of residential properties which is estimated to be a 25% increase in the tax digest. The current draft represents a .75 mil increase above the rollback rate of 15.99. This is a reduction in the FY20 millage rate of 1.925 mils. Increased expenses include annual salary step increases for staff, additional staff required for instruction and student counts, increased sub costs, and additional costs as outlined in the supporting document which Ms. Woerner shared with the Board. Reduction in costs include attrition of staff, professional stipends, travel, and program deficit funding for SNP and Pre-K. Furlough days were eliminated and are not included in this budget. The requirement of fund reserves to balance the budget represents approximately 24% of the fund balance.
There was a brief discussion with the Board concerning money received from The CARES Act. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides funding and flexibilities for states to respond to the COVID-19 emergency in K-12 schools. We are in the process of draft budgeting these funds for items such as technology, Zoom licenses, digital and non-digital helps for distance learning, and custodial supplies. The district has also applied for a grant which, if awarded, would help with devices and infrastructure, and this was discussed as well.”
A Community Budget Meeting was held on August 4, 2020 for the community to comment and ask questions about the budget. There was one citizen in attendance. The following is from those minutes:
“Director of Finance Debbie Woerner gave an update on the FY21 Draft Budget. QBE state funding was initially projected to be cut by 14%, but the final allocation represents an 8% cut for the Pike County School District. FY21 M&O revenues will increase as a result of the county’s re-evaluation of residential properties which is estimated to be a 25% increase in the tax digest. The current draft represents a .75 mil increase above the rollback rate of 15.99. This is a reduction in the FY20 millage rate of 1.925 mils.
Increased expenses include annual salary step increases for staff, additional staff required for instruction and student counts, increased sub costs, and additional costs as outlined in the supporting document which Ms. Woerner shared with the Board. Reduction in costs include attrition of staff, professional stipends, travel, and program deficit funding for SNP and Pre-K. Furlough days were eliminated and are not included in this budget. The requirement of fund reserves to balance the budget represents approximately 24% of the fund balance.
There was a short discussion, and Ms. Woerner told the Board to feel free to ask any additional questions during the process of approving the budget.”
A Community Budget Meeting was held on August 11, 2020 for the community to comment and ask questions about the budget. There was one citizen in attendance. The following is from those minutes:
“Director of Finance Debbie Woerner gave an update on the FY21 Draft Budget. QBE state funding was initially projected to be cut by 14%, but the final allocation represents an 8% cut for the Pike County School District. FY21 M&O revenues will increase as a result of the county’s re-evaluation of residential properties which is estimated to be a 25% increase in the tax digest. The current draft represents a .75 mil increase above the rollback rate of 15.99. This is a reduction in the FY20 millage rate of 1.925 mils.
Increased expenses include annual salary step increases for staff, additional staff required for instruction and student counts, increased sub costs, and additional costs as outlined in the supporting document which Ms. Woerner shared with the Board. Reduction in costs include attrition of staff, professional stipends, travel, and program deficit funding for SNP and Pre-K. Furlough days were eliminated and are not included in this budget. The requirement of fund reserves to balance the budget represents approximately 24% of the fund balance.
Ms. Woerner pointed out that the Draft Budget has changed slightly since the 8/4/2020 Budget Meeting due to an amount being added to Student Transportation Budget to cover bus driver incentives. This caused anticipated expenses to increase while anticipated revenues remain the same. There was a short discussion, and Ms. Woerner told the Board to feel free to ask any additional questions during the process of approving the budget.”
Closing
Pike County Times asked Board of Education (BOE) members and Superintendent Michael Duncan if they would like to comment on the proposed increase. When asked about the proposed increase, Superintendent Duncan advised, "A point in fact is that since 2006 the school district has remained at or near the bottom of per pupil expenditures for County districts with an average rank 155 of 159 County systems."
“I hate taxes. I hate tax hikes. We just did not have the fortitude to furlough teachers and reduce instructional time any more,” said BOE member Beth Camp. She advised that this could have gone up a great deal more, but the Board chose to cut its budget and borrowed from its strategic reserve in order to deal with this reduction from the State which doing virtual school, working under quarantine requirements, and dealing with the fact that the county has not reassessed commercial property in over 10 years.
All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearings on this tax increase to be held at Pike County Schools Memorial Annex, 7454 Hwy. 19 South, Zebulon, Georgia on October 22, 2020 at 12:00 PM and again at 6:00 PM on the same day. Time and place of an additional public hearing on this tax increase will be at Pike County Ninth Grade Academy, 7360 Hwy. 19 South, Zebulon, Georgia on October 29, 2020 at 12:00 PM. A meeting for the final vote will follow at 12:15 PM.
Readers can see a copy of the FY21 General Fund Draft Budget at: click here.
Click here to read from the Board of Education’s website: click here.
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