The Carroll County Board of Education represents voters in the county’s seven districts: Chairman Kerry Miller, Vice Chairman Tom Sizemore, Dr. Bernice Brooks, Mrs. Sandra Morris, Mrs. Lawana Knight, Mr. Bart Cater, Mr. Bryant Turner.
For the second consecutive year, the Carroll County Board of Education has tentatively approved a full millage rate rollback for county property owners.
The county tax digest increased by over $177.3 million, allowing the BOE to reduce the school tax millage rate from 16.259 mills to 16.077 mills. This marks the fourth consecutive annual millage rate cut from the school board, bringing the millage rate down from nearly 18 mills in 2021.
“Our board is grateful to be able to provide a full millage rollback to county taxpayers this year,” BOE Chairman Kerry Miller said. “By carefully balancing student needs with a conservative fiscal approach, we are able to cut the millage rate without negatively impacting the quality of instruction that our students receive. Our board continues to prove that our school system can do more with less while providing the best in academics and extracurricular opportunities in our community.”
When compared with the five similar surrounding districts, Carroll County’s property tax levy per learner is the lowest of the six districts.
“We believe this full rollback demonstrates our dedication to balancing the needs of our students with the financial well-being of our community,” Superintendent Scott Cowart said. “We take good stewardship of our resources very seriously and continue to look for ways to do more with less, and I think you see that reflected in our low tax levy per learner when compared with surrounding districts.”
The board is expected to vote to officially set the millage rate at its August 21 meeting. Approving the full rollback rate has major impacts to the system budget that the board must weigh, Cowart said.
“Local taxpayers need to know that the state reduces its funding to Carroll County Schools when the property tax digest increases, so we will be seeing a decrease in state funding over the next two years,” Cowart said. “The state also reduces our funding because the board voted to lower the millage rate. Unfortunately, that’s how the system works.”
This future impact means the board must carefully balance property tax cuts and the reduced state funding that follows.
“Our system is a huge economic driver for our county,” Cowart said. “Not only are we educating students who will fill local jobs in a few short years, the great majority of our 2,000 employees live in our community, supporting local businesses and paying local taxes. We understand that and are careful to invest taxpayer resources back into our community.”
The BOE approved a FY2025 general fund budget of just over $200 million on June 19 that includes a pay increase for both certified teachers and classified staff, replacement buses for the county fleet, technology improvements and a continued investment in school safety and security.
“We are very appreciative to the board for their investment in students and our system infrastructure while providing relief to county taxpayers,” Cowart said. “We also appreciate the support of voters this past spring who approved a continuation of the E-SPLOST. E-SPLOST allows for new construction and significant renovations to be paid by sales taxes instead of local property taxes.”
“We are thankful to live in a great community with many partners who understand the importance of working together,” Cowart said.
