Editor:
The Bryan County Board of Education and school administration is pushing hard for voters to approve an ESPLOST tax renewal. Along with more taxes, they also included a new bond for $200,000,000 to be created, which we homeowners will have to pay for with an additional property tax on top of what we already pay, if you vote yes on March 18th.
Currently, homeowners pay a millage rate of 15.075 in school property taxes. To find your school tax, multiply 15.075 times the assessed value of your home. For example, if your home is assessed at $400,000, they take 40% of the value to give the taxable value of your home. In this case, the taxable value would be $160,000, which comes to about $2400 in school taxes.
In addition, residents are paying an additional 1.5 millage rate for the school bond in effect now. On the house example above, that equals an additional $240 in school taxes. Note that this amount is for schools and does not include city and county taxes.
With this March 18th vote, they want to put in place a new bond, which will require another bond payment of at least 1.5 mills, so that will send your taxes up at a minimum of another $240. So in property taxes alone, in this example, you will pay $2880 in school taxes. If you rent your home, this affects you too. Increased taxes means increased rent for you as rents will go up to cover the increased property taxes.
The school board also refused to give common sense property tax relief with their opt-out vote in February, so expect to see your taxes continue to skyrocket on the school property tax and both bond payments (if you vote Yes on ESPLOST renewal and bond establishment) as your home assessment continues to increase exponentially.
Additionally, the board wants ESPLOST renewed, which means you pay an extra 1% tax on every purchase in Bryan County. Our tax rate could be in the 5-6% range instead of 7-8% without all these SPLOSTS. For anyone who spends $5000/ month in Bryan County on food, gas, essentials, supplies, amazon, etc., that would equate to a $1200/ year savings if the ESPLOST is not renewed. It’s your money--keep it!
This board does not need any more money. They took in over $40 million in revenue over budget in 2023! They budgeted $90 million, but took in $130 million. And they spent it all! They need to become fiscally responsible, like all of us have to be. Why don’t they cut expenses, and stop building Taj Mahal high schools that are $30 million over budget and counting? Who pays for that? WE DO.
Stop giving money to a group that uses it so unwisely, and doesn’t care how much money they steal from you. VOTE NO on ESPLOST renewal and this new bond and keep your money to feed your family. Don’t let this school system squander your hard-earned money.
Betsy Debry, Richmond Hill, Georgia