Lincoln County board approves millage and school-bond rollbacks after budget hearing

The Lincoln County Board of Education voted unanimously to roll back the district’s maintenance-and-operations millage by a half mill and to apply a full rollback to the school bond rate after a public hearing where school officials described a budget shortfall and the risk of losing state Equalization funding.

The superintendent told the board the recommendation was intended to preserve eligibility for the state Equalization grant and to keep the district’s budget from eroding further. The district reported projected local tax revenue of roughly $5.3 million before the hearing and a prior-year operating shortfall; Mr. Norman, identified in the hearing as the district chief financial officer, said the district was “a little over $300,000 in the red.”

Why it mattered: school officials warned that lowering the millage below 14 mills would likely make the district ineligible for state Equalization funds that this year amounted to about $575,000, a sum the presenters said is significant to maintaining staff and services. The district presented four options — a full rollback to about 13.59 mills, a 1.0-mill rollback (~14.079), a half-mill rollback, or no rollback — and estimated revenue associated with each. The superintendent recommended the half-mill rollback as a balance between reducing taxpayer burden and avoiding an unsustainable budget gap.

Public commenters pressed the board on specifics and impacts. Janet DS, who identified herself during the public-comment period, urged the board to consider setting the rate at 14 mills to avoid losing Equalization and said her property tax had risen by about $1,000 this year. Christy Brian, a teacher of nearly three decades in Lincoln County, defended the quality of the schools and described the local system as an important draw for residents, saying the district “has an excellent school system.” Other residents described sharp assessment-driven tax increases and urged the board to pursue exemptions or other relief for seniors.

Board action and procedure: Superintendent recommendation to roll the maintenance-and-operations millage back by a half mill and to roll the school bond rate back to the full-rollback level was moved by Mr. Heightman and seconded by Mr. Mongre. The board approved the motion unanimously. The transcript records the motion and a unanimous voice vote; the transcript did not provide a member-by-member roll-call tally.

What officials said about next steps: presenters said the district will continue to monitor the final county tax digest and state calculations used in the Equalization formula (the district said final Equalization determinations may not be known until January–March). Officials also said the CFO provides monthly line-item reports to the board and that the board will continue to explore cost savings and funding strategies as state and legislative developments unfold.

The board adjourned after the vote, having approved the rollback package. No additional formal actions were recorded during the session.