Budget pie charts

THOMASVILLE — In compliance with a new Georgia law, the Thomas County Board of Education will conduct the second of two mandated budget hearings Tuesday night.

At the first hearing in May, the school board conducted its first budget hearing. Assistant Superintendent Joey Holland explained sources and expenditure categories that make up the school district’s proposed $63.5 million budget for the 2017-18 school year.

A law approved by the 2016 session of the Georgia General Assembly requires public school systems to conduct two public hearings before budget approval.

“This is the first year the hearings are required,” said Dr. Dusty Kornegay, Thomas County School System superintendent.

The Tuesday hearing is at 7 at school board meeting room, 200 N. Pinetree Blvd. The public hearings are required, even if no local property tax increase is anticipated.

The total budget of all funds for the 2016-17 school year was $62.5 million, compared to $63.5 million for the 2017-18 year.

“The budget increase for fiscal year 2018 is 1.6 percent,” Kornegay said.

Holland said the state assigns schools a financial efficiency “Star Rating,” a type of “return on investment score,” comparing student achievement to the amount of money spent per student.

Thomas County, along with Decatur County, Grady County, Tift County and Valdosta City, received financial Star Ratings of 3.5. Brooks County and Thomasville City received 2.0 Star Ratings, Holland said.

Thomas County’s per pupil expenditure is $8,803 per year, 5 percent below the state average of $9,246 per pupil, Holland said, adding that the Thomasville City School System’s last reported per pupil expenditure is $9,998, 8 percent above the state average.

“Both the financial efficiency star ratings and the per pupil expenditure comparison make it evident that we are making every effort to be good stewards of the tax dollars entrusted to us and that we are delivering a good return on the taxpayer’s investment in our school system,” Kornegay said.

During the first public hearing, Director of Transportation and Pupil Services Dr. Scott James thanked the board for including school bus drivers in the 2 percent salary increase given to certified employees. He requested that the board continue to keep school bus drivers in mind for future salary increases, since maintaining quality school bus drivers is vital to the system.

“They received 2 percent last year, too, “ the superintendent said.

All certified and non-certified employees received 2 percent raises last year.

Until last year, school employees had not received raises for eight years.

Thomas County Middle School Principal Jamie Thompson noted enrollment growth in the system and a need to provide counselors and other support staff to keep up with growing enrollment.

Kornegay said enrollment has increased 11 percent since 2011 for an average increase of about 2 percent per year.

“Total system enrollment in the 2011-12 school year was 5,250, as compared to 5,847 during the 2016-17 school year,” he said.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820