A Public Hearing Without the Public

Jasper County Board of Education members were only briefly detained for their first-of-three scheduled public hearings on a tentative property tax increase. The 2004 proposed millage rate reflects a 19.20 percent tax increase that may be levied by the school.

Last week’s hearing intended for the general public netted no public with the exception of a single media representative. All the same the hearing continued with all board members in attendance.
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Superintendent Jay Brinson presented a brief but comprehensive overview of the perceived necessity of increased school taxes for the forthcoming year. A Power point presentation highlighted four areas of vital revenue reductions totaling approximately $1.2 million that has affected the school system.

In the area of utility taxes, revenue reductions over the past three years amount to $208,200 whereas the local fair share increased by $304,720. The superintendent said that equalization grants received by the school system had been reduced by $68,010 over the past three years. Those losses combined with austerity reductions of more than $620,000 means less funds for the school, according Mr. Brinson.

“The loss of monies means an increase somewhere,” he said.

The final two public hearings on the school sales tax increase are scheduled for today, Dec. 11 at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the board office located in the old Washington Park School.