Board holds public hearing on FY26 budget; tentative millage rate set at 18.8 mills

Athens-Clarke County School District staff presented a balanced fiscal 2026 general fund budget on the first of three public hearings, and the board tentatively left the millage rate unchanged at 18.8 mills.

Finance staff told the board the district’s tax digest rose 8.66% — higher than the 6.5% the district originally budgeted — and said that with the proposed budget the district would begin and end FY26 with an estimated fund balance of $55,000,000. “Our tax digest increased, by 8.66%,” a district presenter said. The budget as presented includes planned additions and some restored items, while avoiding the use of reserves, staff said.

The budget presentation highlighted several specific additions: three certified officer positions (described as floating positions) at an estimated combined cost of about $300,000; 14 non‑certified (unarmed) officers at an estimated cost of $840,000 (the 14 are intended for elementary schools); and $1,000,000 for deferred maintenance to address pending roof and other capital repairs. The presentation also shows a proposed sustainability coordinator position to sit in district services and funding for related grant‑writing support, the presenter said.

Staff described the district’s current liquidity as roughly 2.59 months of operating reserves under the FY26 proposal, compared with a typical target of about three months. The presenter said the recommendation was “not to use reserves this year” and that the goal was to maintain the $55 million fund balance.

On property tax matters, staff summarized the millage calculation and timeline. “The millage rate for FY26 was tentatively set at 18.8 mils,” a district presenter said, calling the rate tentative until final approval at the next board meeting. The presenter stressed that part of the revenue increase comes from reassessment — not a millage increase — and explained the rollback rate mechanics used to show what millage would generate the same revenue as the prior year. The presenter noted reassessment produced a 6.46% increase and that roughly 2.2% of the digest growth represents new construction or “new growth.”

The budget timeline presented: the first hearing held tonight, a second hearing the next night, a third hearing the following Wednesday and a final approval vote scheduled for the board’s next meeting.

Board members asked several clarifying questions during the presentations on department budgets, including how the sustainability position would be used, capital needs (roofs, HVAC) covered by the deferred maintenance allocation, and how the district calculates fund balance needs. Staff said the sustainability coordinator would work with operations to pursue energy audits, analyze utility usage and coordinate sustainability efforts with academic programs. On tax collections, staff reminded the board that the tax commissioner is allowed by Georgia law to charge up to 2.5% for collection and that the district factored delinquency estimates into the FY26 revenue projections.

Procedural motions at the meeting included a motion to adopt the meeting agenda and a motion to adjourn; both were moved, seconded and carried by voice vote.

The board will reconvene for the second budget hearing tomorrow evening; no final millage decision was taken at tonight’s meeting.