The Thomaston-Upson County Board of Education has approved a temporary spending resolution that will allow the local school system to continue operating through August.
The spending resolution is necessary because a budget has not yet been set, said Superintendent Dr. Maggie Shook.
The budgetary delay itself is a result of the countywide property revaluation conducted by the Upson County Tax Assessor’s Office.
“We’re still waiting for the assessments from the Tax Assessor’s Office to determine what our budget will be,” said Assistant Superintendent Dr. Mike Gatlin. “The School Board passed a spending resolution so we can continue to operate without having a budget in place. We can now pass the budget in August when we have the necessary information instead of in June.”
School system officials say that a budget could be set now, but there it would be impossible to do so accurately due to the fact that the revised millage values remain unknown.
Dr. Gatlin had previously reported to board members that information he had received from the Tax Assessor’s Office indicated revaluation process could potentially result in a 10 percent decrease in property values, which in turn could create a budgetary shortfall due to less tax revenue.
If that estimation comes to fruition, the school district’s funding deficit could amount to $1,562,090.70.
In the meantime, the temporary spending resolution – which is permitted by the state – will allow administrators to continue funding operations at a rate no greater than one-twelfth of its current annual operating budget per month for July and August.
The school system’s fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30.
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