Griffin-Spalding school board adopts 16.395 millage for 2025 after 4–1 vote

The Griffin-Spalding County Board of Education voted 4–1 on Aug. 26 to adopt a millage rate of 16.395 mills for 2025 property tax bills, approving the interim superintendent and chief financial officer’s recommendation.

"It is recommended that the Griffin-Spalding Board of Education adopt a millage rate of 16.395 for 2025 property tax bills," Mr. Byron Moneybag Yo Jones, the district chief financial officer, told the board during a special-called meeting.

Board members discussed the budgetary and programmatic implications before the vote. Mr. Jones said assessment figures indicated about a 2.12% increase in total assessments this year and that the district had met required public-advertisement steps for millage adoption.

The board asked whether the rollback would require additional public hearings and how it would affect district reserves and instruction. Mr. Jones noted the FY26 budget had already been adopted and said the change would not alter current operating-year commitments; Dr. Warren said school-level budget planning would aim to preserve instructional resources.

A major line of debate concerned the county’s fee for tax collection. Board member Mr. Holmes said the county’s collection charge—statutorily capped at 2.5%—has cost the district about $1 million per year and urged the board to consider options to reduce that expense or offset it through the millage. "We continue to get charged a million dollar each year for the county to collect taxes," Holmes said. Several members asked whether the board or staff had previously sought a reduced collection fee; Mr. Jones said he had not personally taken that plea but offered to set up discussions if the board directed him to do so.

Miss Weldon moved to adopt the full rollback millage as presented; Miss McDonald seconded. The board voted by roll call: District 1 yes; District 2 yes; District 3 no; District 4 yes; District 5 yes. The motion passed 4–1.

The board’s discussion also referenced district reserve levels (Mr. Jones said recent audited reserves were near $39 million to $45 million and that the district had budgeted to draw down reserves by $10–11 million this year) and concerns about declining full-time-equivalent enrollment and program funding pressures. Several members emphasized that further budget planning and school-level meetings would follow to preserve instruction and extracurricular programs.

The board ended public business on the millage item by directing staff to proceed with the adopted rate and then moved into executive session on separate legal matters.

Action recorded: the board adopted a 16.395 millage rate for 2025 property tax bills (motion passed 4–1).