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Barrow County proposes $236.4M 2027 general fund; millage options, $15M teacher pay investment highlighted
Summary
The district presented a proposed 2027 general fund budget of $236,418,820 with $225,411,129 in revenues and $11,007,691 drawn from fund balance; leaders highlighted a $15 million investment in employee compensation, 67.9 position reductions and use of fund balance to limit tax impact.
Barrow County finance officials on Tuesday presented a proposed 2027 general fund budget that would spend $236,418,820, fund $225,411,129 in revenues, and use $11,007,691 of the fund balance to smooth the tax impact.
Ms. Houston told the board the system reduced expenditures by $12.4 million from the prior year through multiple measures, including eliminating 67.9 positions and trimming operational spending by 10%, while absorbing higher health-care and TRS pension costs. The budget proposes a $15 million investment in employee compensation, primarily targeted at teachers, intended to support instruction and retention.
The superintendent'recommended package would use fund balance to cover $11,007,691 and leave an unassigned balance of $54.7 million (approximately 23% of expenditures, or roughly 2.75 months of operating reserves). Ms. Houston said using fund balance this way reduces property-tax pressure on citizens by an estimated 2.2 mills.
Finance staff also previewed millage-rate options tied to the budget process. The presentation showed a 15.55 mill option that would generate approximately $74,930,729 in property-tax revenue after the county'level 2.5% Board of Commissioners fee is applied (nearly $2 million, about 0.4 mills). Staff reminded the board of scheduled public hearings and a final July adoption window.
Board discussion: members praised staff for the compensation-focused priority and noted the difficult trade-offs in reducing positions. Ms. Houston and leadership said staff will ask the board to consider the budget in the July meeting cycle and that some approvals had been moved to consent or reserved for post'executive-session action.
Next steps: the board will hold additional public hearings on millage rate before final action; the superintendent asked the board to approve the budget by June 30 if possible, and staff will return with any recommended adjustments following public input.
