The Columbus Municipal School District Board of Trustees voted to approve the budget for fiscal year 2015-2106 Wednesday.
The budget has projected revenues of $44,690,689 and expenditures of $44,373,645.
Business manager Tammie Holmes addressed the questions board members had made about the budget at last week’s public review meeting, and presented a slightly modified Ad Valorem request. CMSD will request 60.57 mills valued at $207,000 each to cover operations and debt services in FY 2015-2016. Last week , they were requesting 61.89 mills. The final request will be for 51.07 mills to go toward operations, down from 52 at least weeks presentation. Districts can allot as many as 55 mills toward operational costs.
In FY 2014-2015, the district used 65.85 mills. They are asking for $306,817 less in Ad Valorem taxes this year.
After 20 minutes of discussion the board voted to approve the FY 2015-2106 budget with a 3-2 vote. Trustees Jason Spears and Glenn Lautzenhiser opposed.
Lowndes County Tax Assessor Greg Andrews has previously told The Dispatch this budget creates the potential for a tax reduction, depending on what the city and county request in millage this fall.
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