Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Property Tax Millage topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Burke County board approves 2024 millage rate, budget reports, vehicle purchases and YMCA water-safety curriculum
Summary
At a regular meeting, the Burke County Public Schools Board approved the district's 2024 millage rate, accepted November financial reports, authorized vehicle purchases to replace damaged and heavy-use vehicles, renewed workers' compensation through its low bidder, and approved a YMCA water-safety classroom curriculum for second-graders.
Burke County Public Schools Board members on an evening meeting approved the district's 2024 millage rate and several budget- and operations-related items, including November financial reports, purchases of replacement vehicles, renewal of workers' compensation coverage, and a $9,500 commitment for a YMCA classroom-based water-safety curriculum for second-graders.
The board received the November financial report from district finance staff Miss Martin, who said, "Tonight, I have the financial report for November 2024." She reported revenues as of Nov. 30, 2024, of $7,591,257 (7.67% of budgeted revenues) and total expenditures of $28,212,972 (37.42% of budgeted expenditures). The general fund assets were listed as $215,588,093, with general fund equity of $213,723,921 and total investments of $206,615,774.27.
The millage rate discussion followed the financial presentation. Board chair Mister Chandler introduced the item as "to hopefully obtain final approval on the 2024 millage rate," and board members discussed recent reductions from previously discussed figures. A board member referenced that the rate had been "lowered from 12.5 to 11.75," and another speaker in the discussion spoke the figure "11:27" during the motion; the transcript records that the board moved and approved the millage rate as presented and signed the record. The meeting record does not include a roll-call vote tally or a named mover or seconder for that motion.
Other approvals and actions taken the same evening included:
- Acceptance of the November financial report and vendor activity reports. A motion to accept the financial report passed. No roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.
- Early Head Start report acceptance. Staff reported enrollment at 90 of 94 funded slots, 13 children on the waiting list, average daily attendance of 87%, 34 students transitioning out, three pregnant women served, 75% of health checks up to date, 100% of immunizations current, and 8% of enrolled children identified as students with disabilities. The program reported $137,882 outstanding in in-kind contributions (41% remaining to collect) and year-to-date expenditures of $1,379,952.93.
- Transportation purchases. The board approved two vehicle purchases: a Ford F-350 to replace a heavy-use truck for the band and to reassign an existing F-250 for the mechanic, and a Ford Escape to replace a driver's vehicle that the district's insurer had declared a total loss. Staff noted the insurance payout would not cover the cost of a replacement vehicle and that the quoted replacement was roughly $27,000–$28,000. The staff said funds for the purchases are available in the current budget.
- Workers' compensation renewal. The board approved the low bid from the Georgia Education Workers' Compensation Trust (GEWCT) as the district's workers' compensation carrier for the coming year; staff reported GEWCT's bid was the lowest of four solicited.
- YMCA water-safety curriculum. The board approved a classroom-based (non-water) curriculum proposed by the local YMCA for second-graders at two primary schools, at a district contribution of approximately $9,500. Staff described the program as six 35-minute sessions delivered over two weeks, covering safety behaviors and including a proposed end-of-year pool event for groups of students.
The meeting also included a ceremonial student recognition: a Blakeney Elementary third-grade team that competed in the Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl placed second in the East Region and was presented a trophy.
The board moved into an executive session at the end of the meeting to discuss personnel matters. The motion, second and approval to enter executive session were recorded; no decisions from the executive session were captured in the public transcript.
Votes at a glance (as recorded in the transcript): agenda adoption (approved), minutes approval (approved), financial report (approved), millage rate (approved; final figure discussed in meeting: references to 11.75 and an oral mention of "11:27"), Early Head Start report (approved), transportation requests (approved), workers' compensation renewal (approved), YMCA curriculum and $9,500 commitment (approved), motion to enter executive session to discuss personnel (approved). The transcript does not include roll-call vote tallies for these motions.
