Stephens County Board of Education meets this evening

The Stephens County Board of Education will meet today at 5 p.m. at 191 Big A School Rd, Toccoa for the second public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2024 budget. Board members are expected to adopt the budget during the regular board meeting, which will take place at 5:30 p.m., following the public hearing.

As reported previously on May 17 by WNEG News, School system chief finance officer Lauren Anderson presented details regarding the revenues and expenditures included in the FY24 proposed budget at the first public hearing in mid May.

She said, “The proposed budget for FY24 includes a $2,000 raise for certified and leadership positions, and a 5.1% raise for all other classified positions as well as a 67% increase in certified health insurance and 46% increase in classified insurance, as mandated by the state.”

The $32.4 billion FY24 state budget passed by the Georgia General Assembly and signed by Governor Brian Kemp in March, mandated a $2,000-per-year raise for teachers and other state employees, and specified some increases in benefits.

Anderson indicated that, based on the school system’s estimated budgetary needs for the upcoming school year, and the tax digest figures provided to the school system by Stephens County Tax Commissioner Dene Hicks, it is expected that the school system will adopt the suggested roll-back millage rate for tax year 2023.

She said, “The estimated revenues total $47,787,815. Once all the information for the tax digest is received from Ms. Hicks, it is anticipated that the roll-back millage rate will be used and provide the revenue necessary for FY24.”

The adoption of the school’s milage rate will occur later in the year, typically in July.