Gainesville City Schools officials voted on the final budget and millage rate for Fiscal Year 2020, marking the lowest millage rate since the last available record in 1999.
The board unanimously approved the millage rate and the budget at their meeting Monday night, following the second and final public hearing for the budget.
“We’re looking to go into our reserves slightly, but the great part about all of it is that we’re able to bring forth a budget that allows us to roll the millage rate all the way back to 6.614, the first time in a number of years we’ve been able to do that,” said Superintendent Jeremy Williams, adding that he was proud of the hard work Chief Financial Officer Kathy Pethel and the finance department did to make the budget and millage rate a success.
The budget includes 4% raises for classified staff, la $3,000 legislative pay increase for teachers and some new buses.
Williams said some slight adjustments had been made to the final budget, but no major changes were made from the tentatively adopted budget.
Additionally, the board unanimously approved the renewal of Williams’ contract for another three years.
“It’s always good news to hear with the board, we do a lot of stuff behind the scenes and in the community and working through it, we just have a great board who believes in the school system,” said Williams. “To me, with their confidence in me doing another three years means we’re going to keep pushing and keep moving right along. We’ve got a great team and a great staff and I’m really looking forward to what’s coming next."
