“Zero tax increases”–Julian Davis promises

Oconee public schools are approaching the county council for help in plugging their budget deficit—brought on by drawing down the district’s multi-million dollar fund balance. Chairman Jerry Lee says it now looks like it’ll be September before the schools know what they’ll receive in state aid for 2020-21. Lee says unless adequate state aid is forthcoming, the district will have to draw down their reserves by about $2.6 million—and it’s that amount the schools will look to the county governing authority to make up. However, in a statement to 101.7/WGOG NEWS today, Chairman Julian Davis of the Oconee County Council said, “…this is a working budget process. There will be Zero Tax Increases to our citizens.” Davis also said that the tornado and COVID-19 have made the process of meetings difficult, but interested Oconeeans will be afforded two public hearings to comment or ask questions about what the county intends to spend over the next year.