The Carroll County School District is not asking for an increase in local ad valorem taxes this year. In fact, they are asking for five percent less revenue from county taxpayers than last year.
During last Thursday’s public hearing, Business Manager Brett Reynolds said the district is in better shape financially than it was last year, when the tax increase was necessary.
The hearing was held before the board’s regularly scheduled meeting. It was only attended by media and Supervisor Claude Fluker.
The district is currently operating with $10,057,557.90 and 26 percent of that or $2,637,363.59 is from local ad valorem taxes. Reynolds said that next year's projected budget is $11,541,125.95 and 21 percent of that or $2,420,827.46 is from ad valorem, a decrease of five percent.
Reynolds said the assessed value of a mill for Carroll County is a little over $78,000, and so far the district has collected $2,126,952.60 in ad valorem taxes. He said there's still $292,000 in ad valorem taxes and $133,874.74 in homestead revenue outstanding.
Carroll County’s current millage rate for ad valorem taxes is 106 mils, and the district receives 31 percent of that revenue.
Reynolds said the district’s current financial soundness is due to the administration making necessary cuts and making financially-responsible decisions which have benefitted the district.
“We’re in a financially better place than last year, and we don’t have a three mil payment because we just renewed it,” Reynolds said. “We’re actually decreasing by five percent.”
He added, “We’re starting the see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
He said the district does not control assessed value, so if a person’s property has been appraised for a higher value, their taxes could go up. However, it has nothing to do with the school district.
