Will Macon homeowners have to pay more for retaining teachers? Here’s what to know

Bibb County’s millage rate will stay the same next year, but homeowners in Macon may still face a tax hike for millage that will give the school system millions of additional dollars in revenue.

The Bibb County Board of Education tentatively voted 7-1 to keep its millage rate at 14.674 during a called meeting on Monday, which is used to assess and change local property taxes. One mil equates to one-thousandth of a U.S. dollar. Bibb County’s homeowners may see a 5.67% property tax increase as a result. Eric Bush, BCSD chief financial officer, estimated that an average homeowner with a non-homestead property valued at $200,000 would pay $63.04 more in property taxes next year. An owner with the homestead exemption would pay $57.52.

A homestead exemption is a tax break that reduces the amount of property taxes a homeowner pays on their primary residence.

School officials said the decision to set the millage rate influences the district’s available money to support current and new educational programs, schools, employee pay and staffing levels. In return, the millage rate has an impact on the public school system’s capacity to meet strategic goals such as student achievement and stakeholder involvement.

Bush said the tentative plan will bring about an estimated additional revenue of $4.32 million for the district’s fiscal year 2025 budget.

Prioritizing teachers’ pay amid budget cuts

The millage rate vote comes as BCSD seeks to be more competitive in hiring and keeping qualified teachers, said Superintendent Dan Sims. The school system’s resources will be affected as it enters its first year without access to American Rescue Plan funds.

The Bibb County school system is coming close to $5 million in cuts while also losing millions of dollars in federal money, Sims added.

Sims spoke on Bibb County’s low annual property tax revenue in comparison to eight listed neighboring districts at the board meeting.

“In comparison to other districts in terms of our tax revenue, you see less opportunities that we have in terms of procuring and maintaining resources for our students,” Sims said. “More funds equal more flexibility…and opportunities…”

Board President James Freeman also highlighted neighboring districts losing teachers to Houston County, which he said has a 1% sales tax that can go to its teachers’ salaries.

“By law, (Bibb County) cannot do that. So, we’re trying to compete against somebody that’s playing a different field basically,” Freeman said before mentioning a fear of BCSD losing high-quality teachers.

The school district has a history of rolling back its millage rates unlike other districts.

Board members also noted that lowering the millage rate could put the district at risk of losing equalization funds from the state, resulting in millions of dollars more lost. Equalization funds help districts offer beneficial opportunities regardless of property wealth.

Freeman, who supported the vote to keep the millage rate unchanged, said he would hate to jeopardize that money.

Board member Daryl Morton was the only one who opposed the rate.

Morton didn’t explain his reasons at Monday’s meeting, but he did raise concerns in May about Superintendent Dan Sims’ previously proposed 1.5 millage rate increase, which also sparked community fears about potential hiked property taxes.

“When you potentially ask the people for more money, you’ve got to show you’ve done everything you can. I think that should have already had happened because clearly there is some right-sizing that needs to occur,” Morton said in May about the district’s budget and its possible inability to sufficiently address teacher’s pay and retention, as well as student absenteeism.

The education board passed a smaller budget in June, slating the district to operate with $22 million less than last school year.

Bibb County schools received tax digest numbers on Aug. 13 from the Bibb County Tax Commissioner’s Office.

Three public hearings will be held for public input prior to the final adoption of a millage rate. Two of those will happen Sept. 3 at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. at The Professional Learning Center on 2003 Riverside Drive. The last public hearing will be held at 5 p.m. at 484 Mulberry St.

Here are the other preliminary millage rate options the board considered:

• Partial rollback of 0.50 mills for a millage rate, which would case would cause a 2.07% tax increase. For the owner of a $200,000 home, this option results in an estimated annual property tax increase of $23.04 without homestead exemption. Bush said it would provide a limited opportunity to increase student support and staff raises.
• Increase the millage rate by 1 mill, which would cause a 12.88% tax increase. For the owner of a $200,000 home, this option results in an estimated annual property tax increase of $143.04 without homestead exemption. Bush said it would provide better opportunities for student support and staff raises.
• A full rollback of the 0.788 mills. This option would not affect taxes, but it would cause a slight decrease in revenue. Bush said this option would not provide an opportunity to increase student support or staff raises, as well as potentially lead to a tax anticipated notice. No public hearings would’ve been needed for this option.