The Clarke County School district has approved the tentative budget for the 2026 fiscal year. $1.1 million is proposed for 17 additional school resource officers, annual step increases for eligible employees, and a proportional increase to cover employee state health insurance would bring the budget to around $255 million. This proposed budget is close to a $13 million increase from the 2025 fiscal year.
The school district’s 18.8 millage rate is set to stay the same for the fourth consecutive year however, there is an expected increase of around 6% for property taxes levied in 2025, and while the millage rate would remain the same under the tentative budget, that would in effect increase overall property-tax collections.
The school board will conduct three public hearings, starting June 2. All public presentations and hearings will be held in the Vernon Payne Meeting Hall at the Clarke County School District administrative office building. Anyone who wishes to speak may sign up in the meeting room before the meeting begins.
This article comes to Now Habersham in partnership with WUGA News
