Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Cabot board hears proposal for 2.5-mill safety levy to fund security upgrades
Summary
District staff presented a proposal to place a 2.5 dedicated millage on the May 2025 ballot to raise just over $2.1 million (at 90% collection) for intercom upgrades, fencing and security personnel. The board received the report but did not vote on a levy at the Nov. 19 meeting.
The Cabot School Board heard a presentation Nov. 19 on a proposed 2.5 dedicated millage to fund safety and security improvements across the district.
Michael Byrd, a district director, said Cabot has met all Safe Schools Commission priority 1 requirements and recapped two recent grants: $506,800 awarded in spring 2023 and $839,878 awarded this fall. Byrd said the additional funds are earmarked for intercom upgrades and fencing and that a 2.5-mill levy, at a 90% collection rate, would generate “just over $2.1 million,” which the district would dedicate to safety and security. Tina Wiley reviewed the district’s current combined millage rate of 39.5 mills (25 mills for maintenance and operations, 14.5 mills for debt service) and noted Cabot’s millage remains among the lowest in the region.
The presentation included a budget-level estimate to add and equip eight additional security personnel; no formal staffing or hiring action was taken at the meeting. District leaders said, if approved by voters, the special millage election would be held in May 2025. The board did not vote on placing the measure on the ballot during the Nov. 19 meeting; district staff provided the information for future consideration.
The presentation is the next formal step toward asking voters to fund security-specific spending; district staff said the millage would be dedicated to safety and security and would be separate from general M&O and debt service mills.
