Newton County school leaders present FY27 budget proposal, propose 1-mill increase as public pushes for cuts instead
June 16, 2026 | Newton County , School Districts, Georgia
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Trey Bailey, a board member representing District 1 who chaired the session, opened the Newton County Schools’ second public hearing on the fiscal year 2027 tentative budget and invited Dr. Bradley to present the district's plan.
Dr. Bradley said the FY27 proposal is aimed at preserving the district's long-term financial viability and outlined a multi-year framework, LEAN, intended to reduce costs and increase revenue. “There is no scenario in which strategic reductions'... can offset our need to generate additional revenue,” he said, arguing the district must pair expenditure reductions with new revenue to remain stable.
Erica Robinson, who presented the detailed budget overview, described the budget process under Board policy DC and the State Board of Education framework. She said the tentative general fund for FY27 totals approximately $269.9 million, projected enrollment is about 18,292 students (a decline from the current year), and estimated per-pupil expenditures are $14,756. Robinson summarized projected revenue changes: a net state funding increase of $1.2 million driven by higher employer health contributions and increased TRS contributions, an estimated $3.2 million increase in equalization funding, a $760,000 new allocation to fund state-mandated literacy coach positions, and a projected $10.5 million increase in local revenue largely tied to a roughly 4% growth in the local property tax digest and a projected $670,000 payment from a joint development authority distribution.
To fund operations the tentative budget uses a millage rate of 16.5 mills, a 1-mill increase from the current 15.5. Robinson used assessor averages to illustrate homeowner impact: on a $325,000 home the increase would add about $126 per year, roughly $10 per month. She stressed that while no tax increase is insignificant, that revenue is critical to sustain staff, operations and mandated positions.
Robinson also said salaries and benefits represent the largest share of the budget (about 88.6%), and called out rising insurance premiums, fuel and facility maintenance as significant cost drivers. The district has identified targeted reductions including division-specific cuts, subscription eliminations and a redesign of a supplemental retirement plan to lower long-term obligations; leaders said the LEAN process will produce more significant actions in coming months.
Board members discussed the updated digest numbers and the implications of continuing to budget expenditures that exceed projected revenues. One member said the main new information since the last hearing was clearer digest figures; another, introduced in the transcript as Mr. Payne, said this would be the second consecutive year the board is proposing higher expenditures than revenues and urged the board to find cuts sooner rather than waiting 1218 months. Payne also encouraged pursuing local revenue options and legislative relief to reduce reliance on property tax funding.
During public comment Mark Zimmerman, a resident, said he supported the idea of a 1% sales tax to broaden the tax base and make newcomers and renters contribute. John Dobbs, another resident, urged deeper internal cuts rather than a millage increase, suggested reassigning deputies from school duty to street patrols as a potential savings and said seniors on fixed incomes would feel even a modest tax increase.
The board closed the hearing after asking the public to review the presentation materials and noting forthcoming strategic-reduction plans (an information packet had been released the day prior). The district said it anticipates asking the board to adopt the FY27 budget at its next regular meeting and will begin the millage adoption process in July 2026. A motion to adjourn was made, seconded and carried.
The transcript contained transcription inconsistencies (see audit notes). The board did not take a vote on the FY27 budget during this hearing; the hearing served as the final public comment opportunity before the board's adoption vote at a later meeting.
Dr. Bradley said the FY27 proposal is aimed at preserving the district's long-term financial viability and outlined a multi-year framework, LEAN, intended to reduce costs and increase revenue. “There is no scenario in which strategic reductions'... can offset our need to generate additional revenue,” he said, arguing the district must pair expenditure reductions with new revenue to remain stable.
Erica Robinson, who presented the detailed budget overview, described the budget process under Board policy DC and the State Board of Education framework. She said the tentative general fund for FY27 totals approximately $269.9 million, projected enrollment is about 18,292 students (a decline from the current year), and estimated per-pupil expenditures are $14,756. Robinson summarized projected revenue changes: a net state funding increase of $1.2 million driven by higher employer health contributions and increased TRS contributions, an estimated $3.2 million increase in equalization funding, a $760,000 new allocation to fund state-mandated literacy coach positions, and a projected $10.5 million increase in local revenue largely tied to a roughly 4% growth in the local property tax digest and a projected $670,000 payment from a joint development authority distribution.
To fund operations the tentative budget uses a millage rate of 16.5 mills, a 1-mill increase from the current 15.5. Robinson used assessor averages to illustrate homeowner impact: on a $325,000 home the increase would add about $126 per year, roughly $10 per month. She stressed that while no tax increase is insignificant, that revenue is critical to sustain staff, operations and mandated positions.
Robinson also said salaries and benefits represent the largest share of the budget (about 88.6%), and called out rising insurance premiums, fuel and facility maintenance as significant cost drivers. The district has identified targeted reductions including division-specific cuts, subscription eliminations and a redesign of a supplemental retirement plan to lower long-term obligations; leaders said the LEAN process will produce more significant actions in coming months.
Board members discussed the updated digest numbers and the implications of continuing to budget expenditures that exceed projected revenues. One member said the main new information since the last hearing was clearer digest figures; another, introduced in the transcript as Mr. Payne, said this would be the second consecutive year the board is proposing higher expenditures than revenues and urged the board to find cuts sooner rather than waiting 1218 months. Payne also encouraged pursuing local revenue options and legislative relief to reduce reliance on property tax funding.
During public comment Mark Zimmerman, a resident, said he supported the idea of a 1% sales tax to broaden the tax base and make newcomers and renters contribute. John Dobbs, another resident, urged deeper internal cuts rather than a millage increase, suggested reassigning deputies from school duty to street patrols as a potential savings and said seniors on fixed incomes would feel even a modest tax increase.
The board closed the hearing after asking the public to review the presentation materials and noting forthcoming strategic-reduction plans (an information packet had been released the day prior). The district said it anticipates asking the board to adopt the FY27 budget at its next regular meeting and will begin the millage adoption process in July 2026. A motion to adjourn was made, seconded and carried.
The transcript contained transcription inconsistencies (see audit notes). The board did not take a vote on the FY27 budget during this hearing; the hearing served as the final public comment opportunity before the board's adoption vote at a later meeting.
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