The Union County Board of Education enacted a slight property tax break at its Sept. 24 regular meeting. Superintendent John Hill attributed the decision to the “fiscal responsibility” of School Board members.
“Now, this is not a tremendous tax deduction, but it is nonetheless a tax cut,” said Hill, helping present the initial 2026 rollback of 6.662 before revealing the reduced and ultimately adopted rate of 6.590 for the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget. This is compared to 2025’s rate of 6.853.
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“The 6.662 millage rate would bring in the same revenue as we did last year, so we’re proposing that we go to 6.590, which would be a deduction below the rollback rate,” explained Finance Director Karen Bundy.
“The recommendation is to do not only the rollback but go beyond the rollback with a tax decrease in anticipation that we would continue to have those E-SPLOST funds,” clarified Board Member Janna Akins.
E-SPLOST, or Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, is up for continuation via referendum in the Nov. 3 General Election, with a collections cap of $49 million over five years if renewed.
Hill said that without those E-SPLOST proceeds, property taxes would have to go up to cover otherwise SPLOST-eligible costs. The estimate provided placed the millage rate without E-SPLOST at 9.590, which is a 3-mill increase over the newly adopted rate.
“We’ve got some things coming – technology, annual updates – things that we have to do. If we don’t have the E-SPLOST to cover those, things could look a little different,” said Hill, noting that E-SPLOST is used not just for recurring expenses, but also capital improvements like security system upgrades and necessary replacements such as HVAC systems.
Board training preceded the work session that night, where the latest scholastic metrics demonstrated positive trends for student performance.
Reading and retention are steadily climbing back toward pre-COVID-19 rates. Brief conversation centered on school safety and how it is perceived by students following conflicting results of two different climate studies. And student attendance has improved.
Recognized during the work session, the Blairsville Parent Teacher Organization received a Partners in Education Award for their extensive fundraising for the school system, and school employee Scott Beavers achieved an Extra Mile Award for his dedication to campus safety.
During school updates, principals spoke briefly before allowing two students per school to discuss current events and potential issues that their respective school may be facing. In particular, the Middle School representatives painted a stark picture of overcrowding.
For example, the female student from UCMS described a classroom so crowded that one student had to sit on the floor, and the male student said it was difficult to get through the day as an athlete eating lunch shortly after 10 a.m. A teacher who later spoke up as part of public comments added that he used to keep snacks for early lunch students in his room.
Hill clarified that the classroom desk issue stemmed not from a lack of funds to purchase one, but from a lack of space to physically fit another one inside that classroom. To address the overcrowding, the Middle School is due for expansion should voters support E-SPLOST.
Five community members signed up for public comment, with all speaking in favor of the E-SPLOST up for renewal on November ballots.
