4 months ago
The public gave a heated commentary over the millage rate during a meeting at the Hancock County Board of Education Wednesday night.
Now, the board says it will take one week to consider everyone's comments before it decides whether to propose rolling back the millage rate or keeping the current one.
"I'm sorry. You all are having your pockets picked. Don't you know it?" says Jim Lenahan, of Sparta, as he takes his turn to speak in front of the Hancock County Board of Education.
More than 100 people packed the board's meeting Wednesday night.
Many came to urge the board to roll back the current millage rate from 16.9 mills, after a recent re-valuation doubled and tripled property values for some in the county. Some say they're worried their property taxes will increase too.
The meeting was prefaced with a silent protest outside Hancock Central High School where the meeting took place.
"We hope to get this thing lowered down or stopped," says Bill Taylor, of Sparta. "Whatever we can do."
Many say they expected the board to come to a decision Wednesday, but instead they took comments from the public.
"We recorded every question. Every comment," says Superintendent Awanna Leslie, "I feel that they will go through them before they make any decision."
"That concerns me a little that they are moving the millage rate decision until after the SPLOST is voted on next week," says Tom Landrus, of Hancock County. "And really they're two separate issues."
Not everyone there was asking for the rollback though. Teachers, parents, and students came to show support.
"Why are you bringing up other school systems when this is where I got my best education?" says Kalandria Lessle, a senior at Hancock Central High School. "I learned better here."
Leslie says the schools lost more than $200,000 in the past three years in unpaid taxes. She says state law is forcing them to fill in that deficit.
"Now we're being the victim of rolling back to satisfy the citizens, the students, everybody," says Leslie.
Leslie says ultimately, the board will decide what's in the best interest of the students. She says they should decide on its proposal to the county at its board meeting next Thursday.
