Two public hearings were held Monday, September 8, to discuss the Lincoln County Board of Education's intention to increase property taxes 15.53 percent over the rollback millage rate.

At its June 26 meeting, the board voted to fund a budget of $13,106,748 for FY 2009, which is expected to require a millage increase of 1.99 mills.

At the 7 p.m. hearing, Dr. Randall Edmunds, Lincoln County school superintendent, told those present that the board faced two major problems when drafting the budget: major decreases in state funding and the addition of Social Security benefits for those TRS (Teacher Retirement System) employees wishing to participate in the program.

As for state cuts, Edmunds said, "Compared to last year, we are losing $287,825 in equalization funds. The county's digest increased, and as the digest increases, we get less state money."

Governor Sonny Perdue has also issued a directive for a two-percent cut in education, which translates to a loss of $155,000 in funding for Lincoln County, according to the superintendent.

In addition, the governor is holding $200,000 in homestead tax exemptions that may or may not make its way to local governments.

When all is said and done, state cuts could cost the local board of education a total of $650,000. This does not account for any mid-term cuts by the state.

The other budgetary issue was Social Security. "We have placed $267,000 in the budget to fund Social Security for the remainder of FY 2009, but we won't know the actual cost until the January election when each teacher will decide whether he will take part in the program," said Dr. Edmunds, adding that teachers will have to work 10 years to receive any benefits.

In the event some of the teachers choose not to participate in Social Security, the excess money will be placed in the Fund Balance.

The bottom line is the board is proposing to increase the millage rate from 12.882 to 14.877 mills, which is still lower than the millage rates of the surrounding counties, said the superintendent. "In essence, we're asking for $670,000."

Speaking from the floor, Bill Luking said, "I will concede that there are a lot of things the board has no control over, but you have added $250,000 to the budget, allowing a few individuals, for their own gain, to force the system to bail the teachers out. It doesn't sit well with me. A lot of us have worked all of our lives and paid Social Security all of our lives. It would have been great if I could have waited until the last 10 years of my working life to say, 'I want in.'"

He further indicated that he is disappointed that the board chose to go ahead with the implementation of Social Security while the country is the midst of an economic crisis.

"When the board opted out of Social Security, the teachers had no choice -- the board did this so it wouldn't have to raise the millage rate .5 mills," stated Board Member Gail Remsen. "As a teen, I would have wanted to opt out. We have new teachers, who may decide not to take part in Social Security because they want the money in their paycheck."

She said the system needs Social Security to ensure a quality education for its students. "Teachers can drive 30 minutes to a system where Social Security benefits are available. If we don't offer Social Security, our children will suffer."

According to Dr. Robert Williams, board chairman, "We had a wonderful teacher apply for a job in our system. When she found out we didn't have Social Security, the interview was over."

In his comments, Bill Parker, a member of the audience, said, "Due to the economy, this is coming at an inappropriate time. Lincoln County is not growing that much. It would be better to delay this until the economy improves.

"Social Security is a good thing, but it's not a good thing right now. I'm asking the board to reconsider and postpone this action. You can control implementing Social Security at this time. We aren't able to afford it now."

He went on to say, "People will blame the board of commissioners, but the commissioners have decreased the millage rate to some degree. Now, the board of education has kicked the millage rate back up, so what the commissioners have done has been to no avail. The board of education is undermining what the board of commissioners is trying to accomplish in the name of the children. Quality of education has nothing to do with it."

"I totally disagree," stated Chairman Williams. "It's all about the quality of education."

Board Member Remsen said, "It's important to people, young and old, for us to give our children a good education."

Parker then asked if Social Security was a done deal.

According to Superintendent Edmunds, "We have another hearing scheduled for next week. If you could convince the board members to change the budget, they could do that. We will consider what has been said here tonight."

Denise Freeman, another member of the audience, asked if the board could make further cuts to the budget.

"We have already cut the budget twice," said Dr. Williams. "The increases are all due to Social Security and the mandated raise in salaries from the governor. If he had funded his mandates, we wouldn't be having this discussion tonight."

The chairman added that the board has not raised the millage rate in three years.

"Our county is just so poor - - people are hurting," said Freeman. "I don't want to see people lose their homes."

In other discussion, the board heard comments from the audience pertaining to the possibility of postponing the implementation of Social Security.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Denise Hudson, speaking from the floor, said, "We can all point fingers, but we need to stop. We need to shoot bullets in the same direction - - what we're doing now is just killing ourselves. This is a small community, and we need to work together."

The third and final public hearing concerning the millage rate increase is set for Tuesday, September 16, at 6:30 p.m. at the board office on Metasville Road.