Fifteen people addressed the Bulloch County Board of Education Thursday morning in the second of three public hearings on the proposed property tax increase of three additional mills.
Up for consideration is a proposal to increase the millage rate by roughly three mills over the rollback rate. The increase would constitute an increase over the 2024 millage rate, which was a 29.88% increase over the 2023 millage rate. As a result, the Board would collect just shy of $12 million more than it did in 2024, for a total of $39,270,167 in total taxes levied at the local level. The proposal realizes a shift in funding sources from 14.00 mills to 15.549 mills for Gross Maintenance & Operation (M&O) millage and a reduction in Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) dollars by almost one mill. One mill is approximately $3.8 million in taxes collected
This tentative increase will result in a millage rate of 10.400 mills, an increase of 2.954 mills. The proposed tax increase for a home with a fair market value of $300,000 is approximately $348.57 and the proposed tax increase for non-homestead property with a fair market value of $275,000 is approximately $324.94.
Superintendent Charles Wilson previously stated that cuts to the budget, which was approved in June, triggered by no increase in funding, could mean eliminating 125 positions, cutting instructional programs, and closing the Transitions Learning Center.
The speakers at Thursday’s 9:00 a.m. hearing:
Mara Copeland – Your legal duty is not to keep taxes low, it’s to prioritize children’s education. Raising the rate is not an abandonment of fiscal conservatism. She urged board members who own property and may be impacted by a higher tax bill to put public good over private interest.
Bill Emely – Mentioned that teachers are the most important assets. HE then addressed the impact of increased costs on senior citizens on fixed incomes and
“You’re driving the senior citizens deeper into financial debt,” he said while echoing that seniors and people without students in the school system are having tax dollars taken from them without providing a service.
Jane Page – Spoke in favor of the tax increase, but also said property taxes are an unequal way to fund education. “This is not a fair way to do things, but this is the only option we have….Please do not let these arguments sway you. Vote in favor of the increase.”
Greg Brock – Spoke in favor of the increase and noted that he learned at church to take care of a kid he doesn’t have. Also said the tariffs coming from Washington are impacting Bulloch County public education and the discussion about eliminating the Georgia state income tax will exacerbate that. “It’s interesting that those that are opposed to the millage increase are quiet on the tariffs…Please consider that when you think about this.”
Brock reiterated that seniors can take out a Home Equity Loan if they’re struggling to pay taxes, saying they don’t have to sell their homes. “Seniors have wealth,” he said.
Donna Samples – A former educator said she is working a second job to account for increases in cost of living increase. Said her husband, previously retired, is working to pay taxes and insurance. Also discussed her dissatisfaction with things children are learning, saying teachers need to teach responsibility, manners, and ethics.
[Name inaudible due to microphone sound quality] A Bulloch County School System teacher gave a rundown of what the LIFE program offers to students. She then asked the board to change the budget to save the LIFE program, though the budget was approved in June.
[Mrs. Hewitt (First name inaudible due to microphone sound quality] Told the Bulloch BOE it would be irresponsible to ‘roll back the mileage’ rate.
“If you think you should be excluded from contributing to your community, you should leave.”
A representative from the Unitarian Church Coalition – “Please raise the millage rate,” he said. “We need to do right by our kids.” He noted that he has previously asked the BOE to reconsider how they spend money.
Jeremy Wilburn – Spoke in favor of the millage rate increase. He said everyone benefits from thriving schools and that they shouldn’t be talking about taxes. Instead, he said they should focus on raising literacy rates.
Thomas [name inaudible due to microphone sound quality] – Said he is not against the increase, but asked why it could not be gradual. He noted he is a retired senior citizen.
Adam Brady – He spoke in favor of the millage rate increase. He said he doesn’t want to pay more taxes, but he wants to pay more to support ‘necessary expenses’ and to keep the teachers and provide children what they need.
Jennifer Evans – She said the job of the board is to make sure there is funding. She said the options are larger classes or paying more in taxes. She said her mom is a senior citizen, but the children need the funding.
Evans spoke more than a foot away from the mic and was mostly inaudible.
Joy [name inaudible due to microphone sound quality] – Spoke in opposition of the tax increase. Said as a 74-year-resident of Bulloch County, she is opposed to all the growth and change. “I bought the house back in 1988 for $65,000 and it is not worth what they appraised it at for $259,000. If y’all want to give me that amount, I’ll be glad to sell it to you. However, I’m going to have to end up doing something drastic if it keeps going up. Everything in our lives is going up. I have a fixed income and I can assure you it is not going up at the same rate that everything else is going up. This is becoming a desperate situation.”
Thomas Green – He spoke in opposition of the tax increase. He said the increased taxes makes it harder for people to purchase homes in the area as well, noting that that could lead to instability in the community.
“Please hear me out – this is just about the money. There’s got to be other ways. I’ve been in education for almost 15 years. The taxes are my biggest concern on this.”
Sam Lee Jones – He asked the Board to look at other funding sources, but said he didn’t want to lose programs currently offered to students.
The Board will have one more hearing Thursday night at 6:00 p.m. and is expected to vote on the increase Thursday evening.
