Many Oconee County property owners will see an increase in their property tax bills.
After hearing from around a dozen Oconee residents opposed to the move, the county’s Board of Education voted unanimously for a millage rate of 15.0 mills. However, because of rising property values in the county, the rate will result in a tax increase of 9.53 percent.
Property taxes account for about $45 million of the expected $103.8 million in revenue coming into the school district. State funding accounts for much of the rest. While the school district expects to pull in nearly $104 million in revenue, they plan to spend nearly $106 million. The overage will be funded by the district’s healthy cash reserves.
The district’s budget includes a five percent raise for all employees, which comes at a cost of $3.6 million. The budget also makes provision to hire 17 new teachers, as well as five paraprofessionals and two speech-language pathologists.
