Not two, but three public hearings on the LCBOE higher millage rate, 10 AM and 6 PM on July 15, 6 PM on July 22. That rate still puts Lowndes in the middle of school millage for counties statewide. And they published a budget summary before the hearings.

Kristin Finney wrote for the VDT today, Lowndes schools approves budget: System ups millage rate, picked up by AP as Lowndes schools approves budget,

Lowndes County Board of Education unanimously approved a budget Thursday that includes the school system’s first tax increase in a decade.

The Fiscal Year 2014-2015 budget also includes two calendar adjustment days. School employees will have two furlough days, an improvement from four days last school year.

As for the tax increase, the board tentatively approved upping the millage rate by 2.2123. This will bring the total millage levied to 16.848.

As per procedure, the board did not vote to approve the millage rate. The board will present the millage rates to the public by hosting three public hearings, two on July 15 at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., and one on July 22 at 6 p.m. These hearings will allow the public to ask questions regarding the millage increase.

Following the July 22 meeting, there will be a called meeting at 6:30 p.m. to adopt the millage rate increase.

Here’s LCBOE’s own PR, by Lynne Wilson, yesterday, Lowndes County School Board Approves FY2015 Budget,

The Lowndes County Board of Education approved a $75,632,633 balanced general fund budget for the 2014-2015 fiscal year during its June 26 called board meeting. This is the first balanced budget, without depending on reserves, for Lowndes County Schools since 2009. Decreases in state funding have included a loss to Lowndes County Schools of $54,655,000 in austerity cuts over the last twelve years and a decrease of $2.9 million in equalization funding since 2007.

The new budget includes an increase in millage rate of 2.2123 and a decrease of 2 furlough days for teachers and students. The increase in millage brings the total millage levied to 16.848, aligning Lowndes County with other school systems in the RESA district. Also included in the budget is a decrease in personnel expenses of over $1 million, achieved through attrition.

The budget process began in mid February and has been a team effort, involving staff at school and system levels with the needs of students a top priority. During the budget development, cuts were taken in areas that did not have direct impact on the instructional programs.

Detailed information and the approved budget will be available under the Finance and Human Resources tab on the system website.

According to the Georgia Department of Revenue’s Tax Digest Millage Rates, that new rate of 16.848 puts Lowndes at #91 of 158 counties listed (one is missing), or barely above the median of 16.298. Here’s how Lowndes compares to surrounding Georgia counties:

Lowndes is higher than some, but lower than Lanier County and Valdosta, and quite a bit lower than Bibb and Dougherty County schools. So much for consolidated school districts being less expensive.

Here’s LCBOE’s budget summary in PDF. Plus here’s an HTML table version:

Lowndes County Board of Education
FY 2015 Original Budget
July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2015

	General Fund	Special Revenue Funds	Capital Project Funds	Total
Estimated Revenues:
Local Revenues	$25,997,154.00	$2,130,432.00	$11,023,200.00	$39,150,786.00
State Revenues	49,273,489.00	3,814,278.00	–	53,087,767.00
Federal Revenues	341,990.00	8,490,905.00	–	8,832,895.00
Other Sources	20,000.00	–	6,746.00	26,746.00
Total Estimated Revenues	$75,632,633.00	$14,435,615.00	$11,029,946.00	$101,098,194.00
Estimated Expenditures:
Instruction	$52,654,452.00	$5,265,737.00	$200,479.00	$58,120,668.00
Pupil Services	2,660,051.00	1,163,271.00	–	3,823,322.00
Improvement of Instruction	1,100,800.00	1,542,203.00	–	2,643,003.00
Media Services	1,285,828.00	–	–	1,285,828.00
General Administration	1,050,707.00	98,268.00	–	1,148,975.00
School Administration	4,248,220.00	282,547.00	–	4,530,767.00
Business Support Services	843,705.00	–	–	843,705.00
Maintenance & Operation	6,327,225.00	76,867.00	164,000.00	6,568,092.00
Student Transportation	4,731,176.00	203,636.00	772,819.00	5,707,631.00
Central Support Services	730,469.00	–	1,620,050.00	2,350,519.00
Other Support Services	–	68,762.00	–	68,762.00
School Nutrition Services	–	5,734,324.00	–	5,734,324.00
Facilities Acquisition & Imp.	–	–	402,918.00	402,918.00
Other Uses	–	–	7,869,680.00	7,869,680.00
Total Estimated Expenditures	$75,632,633.00	$14,435,615.00	$11,029,946.00	$101,098,194.00
Excess of Revenues Over (Under) Expenditures	$-	$-	$-	$-
Estimated Fund Balance – July 1, 2014	$2,064,261.00	$1,460,000.00	$12,011,456.00	$15,535,717.00
Estimated Fund Balance – June 30, 2015	$2,064,261.00	$1,460,000.00	$12,011,456.00	$15,535,717.00

The Lowndes County School System Budget for 2014-2015 was approved for final adoption by the board at 6:00 p.m., June 26, 2014 at the Board of Education office, 1592 Norman Drive, Valdosta, GA.

-jsq

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