Oconee Co Schools: millage rate is lowest this century

The Oconee County School District says the budget approved by the Oconee County Board of Education will be funded with the lowest school millage rate this century. The School Board, meeting this week in Watkinsville, approved a $90.1 million school spending plan that includes $2.2 million in salary increases. The budget will be funded with a quarter-mill reduction in the Oconee County property tax rate.

From the Oconee Co School District website…

The Oconee County Board of Education recently gave final approval to a fiscal year 2023 budget of $90,172,517. The budget includes a total millage rate of 16.25 mills, a decrease of .25 mills and the lowest rate this century.

“Oconee County Schools has long maintained a strong commitment to conservative budgeting and sound financial planning, as reflected in the FY23 budget,” said Superintendent Jason L. Branch. “Our Board of Education has given unanimous approval to a budget that prioritizes staff and provides additional staff to assist with the growth we continue to experience, while reducing the millage rate for our community.”

Included in the budget are the following:

• Salary improvements for all certified and classified staff – $2,290,000
• $2,000 increase for certified staff - $1,825,000
• 3% increase for classified staff - $465,000
• Nineteen additional staff positions due to growth in the areas of special education, regular education, and business services – $1,567,000
• $20 per day increase for substitute teachers - $84,500
• Step raises for all eligible staff – $800,000
• Teacher retirement rate employer increase – $90,000
• Fund balance maintained at 28.09% for future growth

The budget is 72% for direct instruction, 6% for instructional support, and 22% for support services. The primary revenues to support the budget are state funding and the local tax digest.

For more information, please visit www.oconeeschools.org/budget.

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