Roll back the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System's (SCCPSS) proposed millage rate to 16.349 mills.
That was the message from every person who took the opportunity to speak before the school board at both Wednesday's first and second public hearings on the district's proposed Fiscal Year 2025 millage rate.
The current rate is 17.631 mills, which would actually result in a 7.84% property tax increase, despite the millage rate remaining the same for a fourth year. That is, as Budget Director Paige Cooley stressed yet again in her concise presentation, because the majority of Chatham County's property owners saw their assessed property value go up this year due to calculations by the Chatham County Board of Assessors.
A rate of 16.439 mills would mean property owners' contributions this year would be the same next year.
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'I see a number of empty seats'
Five members of the public spoke at the first public hearing that took place at 11 a.m. on Wednesday. Six more spoke at the second hearing at 6 p.m.
Former District 1 State Senate Republican candidate and education resources chair for Ladies on the Right Beth Majeroni took issue with a "certain board member's" comments during the latest school board meeting on Wed., June 5. Majeroni said that the board member seemed "to be very confused about the concept itself of millage rate."
The board member she referred to was District 3 School Board Representative Cornelia Hall, who had expressed that she felt the millage rate was too low. Majeroni was bothered by the fact that Hall wanted to take a closer look at Henry County, which Superintendent Denise Watts, Ed. D., had presented as the most comparable district to SCCPSS but with a much higher millage rate (plus a bond).
Majeroni said that the thinking "if one Georgia County has a higher millage rate than Chatham, then Chatham should also...shows a complete misunderstanding of the millage rate and how it is computed." She advocated for the district to cut the "208 Bull Street bloat" (referring to the number of administrators designated as central office employees) before voting to increase taxes.
At both hearings, some commenters cited the disparities in property valuations between the two counties, even though the median home prices are similar and Chatham County's population is about 50,000 more than Henry.
Speakers condemned salaries and benefit expenditures for what they referred to as administrative or "non-school-based" positions within SCCPSS's central office. Cuts to those positions was the only suggestion speakers offered in regard to cost savings that could justify the roll back.
Glenn Wood, who identified himself as a property owner and former SCCPSS student, also stressed the need for a roll back and asked for clarity on whether all property owners are paying an equal share. He questioned, for example, if SCAD was paying its fair share. SCAD is a nonprofit educational institution and therefore exempt from paying property tax on most of its properties, many of which are in the Landmark Historic District and have some of the highest values in the county.
Some community members have called on the City of Savannah and the county to charge SCAD via a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) program. A PILOT program requires that private universities such as SCAD compensate the city or town in which they exist for public services ― emergency services, water and sewage, waste management and others ― that benefit its students, faculty and staff.
Ben Adams, a Savannah resident and officer in the Chatham County Republic Party, spoke at both the morning and evening hearings. He talked about the struggles of fixed- and low-income property owners as well as the pressure the current rate could put on renters. "You have landlords who are stressing 'Hey, we're going to take this rent up if these taxes go up,'" he said.
Timothy Mackey, a resident and member of the International Longshoremen's Association Local 1414, started his time before the board with a statement and a question: "I see a number of empty seats. Where are they?" He was referring to the fact that District 4 Representative Shawn Kachmar, District 5 Representative Paul Smith and District 7 Representative Michael Johnson were not present for the morning hearing (they also were not present at the evening hearing). Watts was also not present for either hearing, although Board President Roger Moss informed the public before the second hearing that she was away at a conference but was listening in.
As far as the absent board members, Moss answered Mackey with, "Some are actually on vacation and some are out of town."
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'What do you want us to cut?'
District 6 Representative David Bringman and Moss addressed questions after the second hearing. Bringman acknowledged that the budget is large because "you're lumping in E-SPLOST [Education SpecialPurpose Local Option Sales Tax]." ESPLOST funds are predominantly earmarked for capital improvement projects such as new schools or upgrades to existing school facilities. The funds, by law, cannot be used toward operational expenses such as teacher salaries or curriculum enhancement.
He encouraged the public to review the PowerPoint slides and discussions from this past year's school board, which can be found at youtube.com/sccpsscommunications under the "Live" tab.
"I believe we have been transparent in where the funds that we are collecting are going," he said. Moss also encouraged the public to not only review but show up to the finance meetings. While the public cannot comment at committee meetings, they can sign up to speak at regular board meetings about any topic related to the school system. Moss stated that board members are also accessible via phone and email, welcoming ongoing engagement from the community.
Bringman concurred and said, "We have individuals who have integrated themselves into the process and have been active throughout the year advocating for their children, for teachers, for counselors, for nurses, for trying to fix the busing problem, and they've been heard...we've built a budget around those problems."
Bringman also stated that he believed one of Watts's top priorities has been cutting administration positions. As previously reported by the Savannah Morning News, Watts asserted during the May 8 Informal Session of the board "that all but about 4% of the [district's] salary and benefits budget goes toward employees who directly support students."
She also went on to say, "There will be a reduction in the upcoming school year of about $800,000, so that 4% will continue to decrease because we cut some central office positions that will give us some cost savings."
Beyond cutting administrative roles, Bringman put forth this question to the public: "What do you want us to cut?" He is open to hearing specific ideas.
Moss followed by saying that education should be thought of as more than a tax. "Education is economic development, education is who is going to be taking care of you when you're old, so come along with us. We don't have to be at loggerheads all the time."
Both men also addressed comments about absent board members, stating that the criticism was not fair. "They're on vacation with their families but that doesn't mean they aren't active in the process," said Bringman. He noted that most of the board members have attended every Finance Advisory Committee meeting and that they either called in to Wednesday's hearings or will watch them later.
The third and final millage rate hearing will take place 6 p.m., June 20, at Eli Whitney Administrative Complex in the Jessie Collier DeLoach Boardroom at 2 Laura Ave. A board vote on whether to approve the FY2025 budget and millage rate will follow.
In accordance with Georgia law, the district posted this year's tax digest and levy, along with the history of the tax digest and levy for the past five years to sccpss.com on June 4 for public review.
Individuals who wish to speak at the final hearing can sign up at sccpss.com. Click on “Board” then click on “request to speak." Members of the public can also email communications@sccpss.comor call 912-395-5538 to sign up.
Joseph Schwartzburt is the education and workforce development reporter for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at JSchwartzburt@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Public tells Savannah-Chatham schools to 'roll back' millage rate
