Towns County Board of Education approves 2018-2019 budget

HIAWASSEE, Ga. – Towns County Board of Education approved the final adoption of the 2018-2019 budget June 11, 2018. FetchYourNews (FYN) spoke with Financial Director Myra Underwood on the afternoon of Thursday, June 22, regarding the capital project fund applied to campus renovation. The state of Georgia is expected to reimburse the Board of Education between 50 to 80 percent of the associated costs. The renovation is in the first phase which includes replacing the roof and an upgrading the air conditioning system.

“The biggest change from last year’s budget to this year is the capital project budget,” Underwood explained, “The grant started this year, but we’re going to roll over into next year. This project is three million dollars, and we’ll be reimbursed as we go along, but we’re doing it two different years. We had to add that three million dollars into next year’s budget too because we don’t know how far along we’ll be.”

The 2018-2019 budget balances at $25,049,643, with $13,776,728 in the general fund, $5,272,915 in special revenues, and $6,000,000 for capital project funding.

“There’s not a big increase in the general fund budget where you get your property taxes from, other than just the benefits and things like that,” Underwood continued. When teaching staff receive an upgrade, for reasons such as advanced certification, retirement benefits expand from 16 to 20 percent.

Underwood said that the campus renovation is advancing on schedule, and although previously delayed due to the construction, the 2018-2019 school year is projected to commence August 16.

Towns County Board of Education is scheduled to meet for their monthly work session at 67 Lakeview Circle in Hiawassee on Monday, July 2, at 7:00 p.m.

Meetings are open to the public.

Feature Photo: TCS Financial Director Myra Underwood