Dalton school board to hold public hearing for proposed 2025 budget on Monday

Brady Hix, The Daily Citizen, Dalton, Ga.
·3 min read

May 10—Those attending the Dalton Board of Education's meeting Monday will have an opportunity to provide comments on Dalton Public Schools' proposed budget for fiscal year 2025.

The fiscal year begins July 1.

Board members will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the City Park School auditorium at 405 School St. All meetings are open to the public and livestreamed to the Dalton Board of Education's page on the school system's website. A work session is at 5 p.m.

There will be two public hearings on the proposed budget, the second during the Dalton Board of Education's June 10 meeting, also taking place at 6:30 p.m. in the City Park School auditorium.

"These hearings will provide an opportunity for the community to gain insight into the budgetary decisions of the board and offer input," a press release from Dalton Public Schools said. "All members of the public are invited to attend these hearings. Citizens who wish to provide comments in person at the May 13 meeting are encouraged to do so."

The third draft of the budget for all funds lists estimated revenues of $109 million, with total expenditures anticipated at just under $113 million, bringing the projected ending fund balance for fiscal year 2025 to $16,937,332.

School system officials said the presentation for the proposed budget will be available for review at Monday's meeting and online by visiting the Dalton Public Schools website (https://www.daltonpublicschools.com/), clicking on About, then Dalton Board of Education, upcoming board meetings, then the red "BOE" link, then meetings, then regular meeting of the Board of Education (for item seven, click on the paper clip,) then look for "Supporting Documents."

Steven Craft, who was recently named the school system's next superintendent and will begin in the role on Thursday, May 16, is scheduled to provide a "proposed organizational restructure" presentation, when he will "introduce a proposed organization chart aimed at enhancing transparency and promoting efficiency within the Dalton Public Schools central office and across the school system," the press release said.

Tim Scott, the current superintendent, will exit the role on Wednesday while still serving in an advisory role to Craft until May 28 when Scott will retire from the system and become the new executive director for the Georgia High School Association.

The board members are also set to hear a request to approve the adoption of core literacy curriculum provided by Savvas myView Literacy and myPerspectives for kindergarten through eighth-grade classrooms — costing $1,647,702.23 — by Executive Director of Teaching and Learning Brandi Moore.

The board members are also scheduled to hear a recommendation of approval from Chief Finance Officer Theresa Perry regarding salary and wage schedules for employees during the 2024-25 school year, as well as a request to approve the continuation of the district's current maintenance and operating tentative millage rate, the press release said.

If approved, the millage (property tax) rate would continue at 8 mills for fiscal year 2025.

"As part of the fiscal year 2025 general fund budget process, staff assumed that the millage rate continues at 8.00 mills for the annual operation of the school district," system officials said. "The budget assumption shows significant growth in the digest, in excess of 17%, using the same millage that results in local property tax revenue increase of $6.5 million."

For the current fiscal year, board members approved a millage rate reduction from 8.09 mills to 8 mills.

"As a frame of reference, the current year digest had 21% growth," officials said. "The initial digest from fiscal year 2023 showed 14% growth, prior to its modification. Due to the supply and demand of the housing market and property in general, values have increased."

The board meeting will also feature several individual and group recognitions, including employees who have reached 15-, 20- and 25-year milestones in the school system, 2024 Georgia Scholar honorees, 2024 Governor's Honors Program student finalists and Hammond Creek Middle School's lacrosse team, which recently completed its first season, among others.