Free Summer Meals: June 2-26
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FY 2026 Tentative Budget
The Barrow County School System Board of Education (BOE) will consider adopting the Fiscal Year 2026 budget on June 24 at 6 p.m. after two public hearings (details below). They voted to pass the tentative budget at their June 3 Work Session.
The proposed tentative budget is available for review during normal summer business hours at the Professional Development Center (PDC) at 179 W. Athens Street in Winder or you can find it linked here.
What does a $226,000,000 budget mean for the BCSS?
The Barrow County Board of Education strives to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars while ensuring students have access to a quality education and necessary support. Some examples of that include investments in mental health initiatives, school resource officers, campus mapping software, literacy materials, salary step increases for all employees, and a salary study to ensure we remain fair, equitable, and competitive with surrounding opportunities. The Board also voted to include a one-time $1,000 bonus for all BCSS employees.
These accomplishments for students and staff are happening while the Board of Education has passed a new BCSS Age-Based Tax Exemption to help our citizens who are 62 years and older and meet income thresholds.
A glimpse at where the money goes ...
- Classroom Instruction (teachers, supplies & technology)
- Maintenance & Operations (staff, supplies, utilities, repairs)
- Transportation (staff, fuel, repairs)
- Pupil Services (nurses, counseling, athletics)
- Health & Safety
- School Administration (principals, assistant principals, office staff)
- Instruction Improvement (special education supports, subject specialists)
- All Other (central office staff, supplies)
Millage Rate Details
In 2025, the property taxes helped cover 29.4% of the budget. On June 3, 2025, the BOE voted to tentatively set the FY 2026 Millage Rate at 15.695 mills, dependent on the Board of Commissioners’ decision concerning their portion of School Resource Officer funding. If the Board of Commissioners funds the SRO officers as they have in the past, the Board will set the final millage rate at 15.5 mills, which would be the same rate as FY 2025. (In 2022, the rate was 17.881 and in 2021 the rate was 18.5.)
The final vote for approval will happen on July 8 at 6 p.m. after three public hearings. (Details below.)
BUDGET & MILLAGE RATE PUBLIC HEARINGS
All hearings are at the Professional Development Center at 179 W. Athens Street in Winder.
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THERE ARE TWO BUDGET PUBLIC HEARINGS:
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THERE ARE THREE MILLAGE RATE PUBLIC HEARINGS:
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More Information about FY 2026 Budget & Millage:
- FY 2026 Budget Advertisement
- FY 2026 Budget Detail
- FY 2026 Budget Public Hearings
- Notice of Property Tax Increase & Public Hearings
- Notice of Current Tax Digest and Five-Year History of Levy – CY 2025
- Board of Education Discussion from May 27 Work Session
- Board of Education Discussion from June 3 Meeting
FAQ about Budget & Millage
What about ESPLOST? Why doesn't it cover the budget?
By law, ESPLOST (Educational Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) can only cover certain expenses, including school buses, building renovations, new schools and facilities, and technology equipment. Having ESPLOST to use toward those things helps to free up money in the General Fund to be used on necessities like salaries and benefits.
If you have money in the Fund Balance, why would you have to increase the Millage Rate?
School systems generally hold about two to three months of operating expenses in reserve in a fund balance to allow the system to cover monthly expenses during periods before receiving State Quality Basic Education (QBE) Funds. Without a Fund Balance, we would not be able to pay salaries or operational costs during the time before receiving the QBE Funds. School systems also hold money in reserve in a fund balance to help pay for unexpected costs that may arise during a school year.