Putnam Schools Present $99.7 Million Budget To County

The Putnam County School System’s draft 3 budget includes an $8.475 million gap.

Putnam County Budget Committee Chairman Ben Rodgers said county funding will not be able to cover the entire gap.

“That’s a big gap for the school system to be at, and I understand their needs and why they need that,” Rodgers said. “To consider funding all that wouldn’t be an option this year. I think they understand that as well, and I know they aren’t expecting a full $8.5 million extra in revenue.”

Rodgers said a 51-cent property tax hike would be needed to fully fund the gap, but that’s not likely to occur.

“That would put our rate to $3.24 cents,” Rodgers said. “For as much growth and retail that we have, we should not have a tax rate that high, in my opinion.”

Rodger said the county will be funding at least a third of the school system’s $99.7 million spending plan.

“Based on the Basic Education formula, they’re getting over $54 million and the state requires us match around $29 million additional to that, Rodgers said. “We’re actually at $32 million plus, which is good because not all counties can get above that. They match the minimum.”

Property taxes, sales tax, and other local revenue funds the local match. Rodgers said maintenance of effort law requires the county match at least the same amount as the current fiscal year, or about $32 million.

“We can’t tell them to decrease a line item in expenditures per state law, that’s not our authority,” Rodgers said. “Our job is to give them a funding number, whether its the same as last year or whether it’s an increase.”

The Putnam County Budget Committee will likely vote on the school system’s budget during their July 1 meeting.