EDUCATION

Clarke County Board of Education approves tentative $189 million budget for 2023

Stephanie Allen
Athens Banner-Herald

The Clarke County School District has set its tentative 2023 budget, with a decreased millage rate and three public hearings scheduled.

The tentative budget was approved by the board of education unanimously on May 12 and final approval is set for June 2, following the public hearings.

The proposed millage rate would be 18.8 mills, down from the previous rate of 20 mills — the rate for at least the past six years and also the legal maximum. 

The school district collects a portion of its revenue through property taxes, and the millage rate is used to calculate how much a property owner owes.

Despite decreasing the millage rate, rising property values means that more property taxes would be collected by the school district, a projected $105 million — a $10 million increase from last year. 

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The budget clocks in at $189 million, with property taxes making up 56% of the district’s revenue and state funding 38%, or $72 million. An additional $11 million would come from various other sources.

A majority of the money would go to salaries and benefits, budgeted at $162 million, or 85% of the budget.

Clarke Central High School would see a budget increase of nearly $800,000, and its overall budget set at nearly $14 million. 

Cedar Shoals High School's budget would rise by almost $1.4 million, for a total of $12.8 million.

Three schools would see a slight budget decrease, including Barrow Elementary School, down by $40,000 to a total of $4.7 million. Fowler Drive Elementary School's budget is cut by $55,000 for a total of $4.3 million.

Classic City High School would see its budget decreased by almost $34,000 and would be set at $667,095.

Two budget presentations and three millage rate hearings will be held before final adoption of the budget. These will take place in the Vernon Payne Meeting Hall in the district administrative building at 595 Prince Ave. The hearings dates and locations are:

  • Budget Presentation and Millage Rate Hearing: Thursday, May 19 at 4:30 p.m.
  • Budget Presentation and Millage Rate Hearing: Monday, May 23 at  6 p.m.
  • Millage Rate Hearing: Thursday, June 2 at 5 p.m.