Sumter County Council votes 6–1 to keep school millage at 159.4

Sumter County Council voted 6–1 on June 28 to maintain the Sumter School District’s millage at 159.4 for the 2022–2023 academic year, rejecting a push by one council member for significantly higher local funding.

The vote came after Councilman Artie Baker moved, and Vice Chairman James R. Byrd seconded, a motion to fund the district at the same millage level it received in 2021–22 (159.4 mills). County Administrator Gary Mixon explained that the county had appropriated two additional mills last year to reach 159.4 and that reassessment changed the mill value, so the district could see increased revenue even without higher mills.

Councilman Eugene R. Baten urged a larger appropriation. He said County Council had underinvested in public education and called for granting the district an additional 10.9 mills that, he said, would amount to $2,030,300. "Today is a very special day in the history of Sumter County Council and Sumter County," Baten said, arguing the county needed to support education as a cornerstone of economic development. He concluded, "there is no way under God's heaven that I am going to support what you are saying," and asked Council to bring the vote up.

Councilman Baker disputed that stronger local funding had been declined for lack of intent; he said information he obtained from the state showed the School District would receive $10,900,000 from the state this year and that the county would provide $1,500,000 in growth. He also noted no district representatives were present at the meeting. County Administrator Mixon clarified that Baker’s motion specified mills (not a dollar amount) and reiterated the mechanics of last year’s mill adjustments.

When the motion was restated for action, Council members Baker, Byrd, Edens, McGhaney, Washington and McCain voted in the affirmative; Councilman Baten voted in opposition. The motion passed, leaving the district funded at 159.4 mills for 2022–2023.

The resolution (R-22-06) adopted by Council set the millage at the level used in the prior year; the record shows the council did not adopt an additional 10.9 mills sought by Councilman Baten. No immediate amendment or further procedural action on this resolution was recorded at the meeting.