Board of Education Approves Millage Rate for FY23

DAWSON COUNTY, Ga.- The Dawson County Board of Education approved the millage rate for the fiscal year 2023 at a special call board meeting on Aug. 9 after the third public hearing on the subject.

The board also approved putting bus #233 up for sale as a surplus item. The policy IKBB was additionally approved by the board at the meeting.

The current millage rate for fy22 is 15.00. Last year was the first time the rate has been lowered since 2016 when it was lowered to 15.778. The millage rate that the board approved is a rate of 14.200.

This millage rate is lower than the previous year’s rate however it is not the rollback that was recommended which was 13.305. The reason for selecting the 14.2 rate is due to the extra cost of the budget.

For the average home valued at $375,000, the tax levy will be $2,130. Finance Director Beth Covington has presented this presentation the required three times and there have been no public comments at any of these meetings. To review the full millage hearing visit https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/Meetings/Attachment.aspx?S=4051&AID=1421557&MID=103560.

Bus #233 has been approved for surplus sale. The bus has been out of commission since 2019 and is beyond the school system’s ability to repair.

When a government or school system put items up for surplus sale anyone can buy them. The website to view items for surplus sale or auction is https://doas.ga.gov/surplus-property/georgia-auctions-and-sales.

Policy IKBB has been approved by the Board of Education as well. The policy was brought before the board at the July meeting and work session. To view that meeting visit https://dawson.fetchyournews.com/2022/07/20/board-adopts-and-expands-learning-resources-for-k-5/.

The policy had to sit on the table for 30 days to give the community an opportunity to review the policy. The community has not made any comments for or against the policy so was approved as written. The policy can be viewed at https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/Meetings/DownloadPolicyPDF.aspx?S=CpluslXcYFFT3A9JrOJ3bb36g==&AttachmentID=BFPiVWSQ46FQGK2Cu2xPDA==&IID=qYDEvVVYslshXy08VByFv5cJQ==.

This is in response to House Bill 1084 which was past in March. All Georgia School Boards are required to approve a policy for this bill. Lumpkin County approved one on Monday night, and White County approved one at their July board meeting.

Heard in the clip above is Superintendent Nicole LeCave describing the successful start to the 2023/24 school year.