Oconee County Schools CFO: 'More with Less is the Mantra These Days'

The Oconee County Board of Education at its meeting next week will consider the adoption of millage rates that result in no tax increases.

Superintendent Dr. Jason Branch will recommend a rate of 17.5 mils for maintenance and operations, Chief Financial Officer Dan Smith explained at an Aug. 5 work session.  It's the same rate as last year.

"The tax digest did increase ever so slightly," Smith said, "which does indicate to us that we will make the revenue projections that were put into this upcoming budget."

The FY 14 $54.1 budget, approved in June, included two furlough days but no layoffs.  Branch noted on Monday that each furlough day saves the system about $200,000.

"All in all, the 2014 budget is $4 million less than it was in fiscal year 2009, even though we've added 300 students since that time," Smith said. "Doing more with less is the mantra these days, unfortunately, as far as the funding goes."  

The current debt service rate of 1 mil is also remaining unchanged, Smith said, but it won't be enough to cover the $1,960,000 bond payment that must be paid in January.  "So we'll have to use $200,000-$225,000 of that $1 million that we're allowed out of the SPLOST (special purpose local option sales tax) fund it," he explained.

The good news, according to Smith, is that it's the last, long-term bond payment, and next year the debt service millage rate can be dropped altogether. 

The next school board meeting will take place at 5 p.m. on Aug. 12 in the Central Office Building on School Street.