GAINESVILLE - The Gainesville Board of Education held another budget hearing and felt the anger and frustration from the taxpayers again Thursday night about a $6.5 to $7 million deficit and a possible 8 mill school tax levy.
One audience member in the Gainesville High School Media Center called for consolidation of the city school system with Hall County Schools to do away completely with the city's school administration.
Questions ranged from "why can't you give us a line item budget?" to "where do we go from here?"
The board meets next Monday and sharp spending cuts are in the offing at its upcoming work session; no one appeared satisfied with the explanation that the board spent money it did not know it did not have.
Homeowner James Allen was one of many who was not happy.
"You can't get people up here who are going to give us some accountability, name names and let us know really who spent us into the hole we're into," Allen said.
Gainesville School Superintendent Steve Ballowe said that ultimately he is the official who evaluates finances, but he said he had the wrong data.
"There is the factor that you trust people who do the right thing, and we did not have accurate data and that's very disturbing," Ballowe said.
Ballowe added last year's tax roll back would not have been approved with the right finance figures.
School board member Kelvin Simmons said he would not have approved projects last year if he had correct information.
"If I had the correct information in front of me, I would surely have not spent the money on those projects," Simmons said.
Simmons has pledged to curb spending, approve more budget cuts and agreed to have an independent system finance audit.
The board has 30 days to come up with a balanced and approved budget to submit to the state Board of Education.
Meanwhile, Hall County school officials said Thursday that a tax increase is in the works as they put the finishing touches on their new budget. (See separate story).
Thursday
October 17th, 2024
8:19PM
