The Clarke County Board of Education voted unanimously last night to pass a nearly $150 million budget. The budget includes funds allocated to hire new teachers, a priority for the district, which CFO Larry Hammell says will lower class sizes.
"If you go look at Clarke County compared to some school systems around us, historically we've had lower class sizes and that goes a long way to helping our students," Hammell said.
Hammell also said that the FY 2019 budget is the first time in several years that the district has produced a balanced budget. As is usual, the lion's share of the district's funding comes from two sources - property taxes and state Quality Basic Education, or QBE, funding.
Some ACC property owners could see a tax increase this year, thanks to rising property valuations, although the county’s millage rate will remain at 20 mils, the maximum allowed under state law. The district estimates that a home valued at $175,000 could see a tax increase of just over $51 per year.
The board also approved the hiring of Dr. Dan McGuire as the new principal at Whit Davis Elementary. McGuire has nine years of experience as a principal and was most recently principal of West Side Elementary in Marietta.
