Oconee’s school tax rate to remain intact

Oconee County has approved budgets.  Now it has the tax mill rates to generate the monies to fund expenses.  The county council last night received the recommendations of the county auditor, ahead of preparing the 2020 property tax bills.  The council set un-incorporated tax mills for general operations at 80.3 and in-corporated millage at 77.4.  For school purposes, mills will total 146.5.  Auditor Christy Hubbard recommended the county drop school taxes by one mill, but the council chose to keep that one mill.  In terms of dollars, Hubbard said, it wouldn’t make much difference for an Oconeean who pays residential and car taxes. Council Chairman Julian Davis of District Four and Councilman Paul Cain of District Three are optimistic about the county’s financial position, saying the value of a mill is increasing.  In spite of the financial repercussions caused by COVID-19, the value of a mill has increased.  Auditor Christy Hubbard says one mill for county purposes brings in $561 thousand dollars; one mill for schools, $418 thousand.  The tax mill rates are calculated to fund 2020-21 county operations at $40 million and schools at $67 million.  The only public comment speaker last night, Jerry Barnett, decried the county’s budget as “bloated” and believes workers who don’t perform up to par should be let go.  Chairman Davis, however, later responded that he takes pride in the quality of the workforce.  While both Davis and colleague Cain advocate holding workers accountable, they are defending the decision to award $1,500 pay raises.