BOE hears proposed 2009 budget, tax rate, tax hike

GAINESVILLE - The Gainesville school board got its proposed FY 2009 budget and millage rate Monday night during a called meeting from the administration under new interim superintendent Dr. Merrianne Dyer.

According to figures from Finance Director Janet Allison, the estimated budget is $52.4 million; the proposed millage rate for Maintenance and Operation is 7.42, up from 2008's 6.62 mills with an additional .39 mills to erase the deficit, now estimated at $5.6 million.

The initial deficit projection was between $6.5 to $7 million.

Dyer said a combination of factors caused the board to make decisions based on inaccurate financial data.

"The budget shortfall resulted from a combination of overbudgeting the general fund, organizational flaws that resulted in a lack of internal controls and issues of lack of communication, which resulted in spending on non-budgeted personnel and capital improvements," she said.

That means taxes could go up 12.21 percent, with a $300 increase in the average tax bill for Gainesville property holders.

Dyer said the Alumni Affairs Coordinator's position would be eliminated, school day care participants would pay more - $15 a week - and day care services would be paid by payroll deductions.

Board Chairman David Syfan said if taxpayers are going to pay, the parents sending their children to Gainesville schools from outside the system should pay a higher tuition.

"It ought be be fair that we ask the tuition students to pay somewhere around 300 and something a year," Syfan said.

Right now annual tuition is set at $450 per student; Syfan said it should increase to $810 per student.

About 266 students attend Gainesville schools from Hall County, with five attending from outside the county.

Syfan made his comments after the board reviewed tuition rates from other systems. The highest was Decatur City schools with $6,430 per student; the lowest was Rome City Schools, where parents pay $180 annually.