On July 16th, FYN reported a drop in the tax digest of 15.4 percent for the county and 17.9 percent for the board of education.These, however, were only preliminary numbers. According to Gilmer County Tax Commissioner Melba Bennett, the drop in the net county digest between last year and this year is 8.93 percent for the county and 10.34 percent for the board of education. When it passed its tentative budget, the board of education had budgeted for a 10 percent drop in the digest. As such, the actual drop is only slightly under the anticipated number. In an email to FYN recently, Superintendent Bryan Dorsey confirmed that the board has funds in reserves to cover any drop in the digest below the anticipated 10 percent. On the county side, the board of commissioners has scheduled a special called meeting tomorrow, July 31st at 9:00 A.M. to authorize the advertisement of the proposed and tentative millage rate.
FYN will report on tomorrow’s meeting and other updates as they develop.