Habersham County teachers can expect a little extra pay in December thanks to a more than $1.6 million budget surplus. With the excess in 2015 school system funds, Superintendent Matthew Cooper says it is now possible to pay teachers for one of four “furlough days” when they work but are not paid. The furlough days began during difficult economic times. This year, without affecting the students’ school calendar, Cooper says, it will be possible to pay teachers for one of those unpaid work days. He expects teachers will receive that extra pay in December.
That news comes on the heels of a report to the Habersham County Board of Education August 10th during which Chief Financial Officer Staci Newsome reported the school system finished its Fiscal Year on June 30th $1,600,192 in the black. Newsome explained in her Financial Report that income from local tax revenue was greater than anticipated – in some tax areas more than others.
See School System Ends Fiscal Year in the Black
The area with the most positive impact on the school system was the area of tax collected on Alcohol Sales. That revenue for the school system was 16.37% higher than the amount expected when the budget was written. ELOST (Education Local Option Sales Tax) had the next highest collection: 7.98% higher than the amount expected to be collected. The collection of Ad Valorem taxes was the next highest area of collection, at 7.65% higher than anticipated. The only area of local tax revenue that was lower than expected was Real Estate/Intangibles and the amount collected from that area was at 92.31% of the amount anticipated. That small difference was more than made up for by the areas of taxation that were above the expected amounts.
Throughout the fiscal year, all of Newsome’s monthly budget reports showed the school system to be in a strong financial position. Newsroom explains that changes in funding from state or federal sources which cannot be predicted are one reason school systems need to have excess funds available. Newsome says the amount collected by June 30, above the projections, resulted in “a very positive way to end the fiscal year.”
Habersham County’s Tax Commissioner June Black says her department has taken steps over the years to insure people’s taxes – so important to school system operation – are paid fully, and in a timely manner. Having held office for three terms, she remembers that when entering office, only 83% of the county’s taxes had been collected. At that time, less money could be provided to the school system. Now, the department collects 99% of taxes owed. Black says her office has become “more proactive,” in the way they collect taxes and insists “we hold people accountable.”
Last year (FY2014) the Habersham County School System finished the year with a $110,300 surplus. Newsome says the system has never been in the red. It costs the school system $5.1 million each month to operate.
