Budget Passes
The Polk School District Board of Education passed a tentative budget at a special session meeting Monday night. The board elected not to make any additional cuts to the budget at this time. The board will spend the next few weeks deciding if they will raise the millage rate or add more furlough days. Board members Tara O’Neal and Crystal Sproull spoke out in favor or raising the millage rate. O’Neal compared the millage rate of Polk County with surrounding counties. Both Floyd and Haralson County have a higher millage rate than Polk County. Those counties also raised the millage rate recently, while Polk County hasn’t raised the millage rate since 2003. Board members Jane Holbrooks, Tommy Sanders and Grady McCrickard spoke out against raising the millage rate. Tommy Sanders stated he believes the board needs to exhaust all possible options before raising the millage rate including cuts. Sanders stated that even closing Northside Elementary should be discussed. The board will make a decision within the next few weeks.
