DOLLARWAY PREPARES FOR THIRD TRY AT RAISING MILLAGE RATE

By Larry Fugate/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF

The Dollarway School Board is readying a third run at raising the district’s millage rate with a referendum on May 20, the same day as the political party primaries.

The Dollarway School Board Tuesday evening affirmed a decision made at a called board meeting on Jan. 31.

The board selected one of two options proposed by A.V. “Buster” Beardsley of Beardsley Financial Services to finance a $15.13 million refunding and construction bond issue.

The bulk of the issue would be utilized to retire existing bond indebtedness, plus provide $4.85 million to match state funds for improvements listed in the district’s 10 year master plan, approved Jan. 8.

The master plans calls for $11.82 million in construction and renovation work on Dollarway campuses, including $11 million for a new middle school, $50,000 earmarked for the auto shop, $350,000 for a new high school roof, $250,000 for an air conditioning and heating system for the high school and $175,000 for improvements for the alternative school.

District patrons rejected a proposed millage increase at Dollarway in 2006, then narrowly adopted a March 13 millage referendum by a 399-378 vote margin to increase the tax rate to 42.3 mills.

A lawsuit contended Superintendent Thomas Gathen misrepresented the cost of the tax proposal to district patrons in advertising and public comments.

Circuit Judge Rob Wyatt Jr. threw out a challenge to the referendum by several Altheimer area residents. He held they did not lodge their challenge in a timely fashion. The plaintiffs have since appealed Wyatt’s ruling.

The former Altheimer Unified School District was absorbed by the Dollarway district in 2006. Before the annexation, patrons in the Altheimer District paid a levy of 32.6 mills, while those in the old Dollarway district were assessed at a rate of 40.8 mills.

The May 20 proposal, if adopted by patrons, would raise the levy for patrons of the former Altheimer district from 32.6 mills to 40.8 mills, leaving the rate unchanged for residents of the old Dollarway district.

Beardsley’s “Option B”, which was not selected, would have called for a 1.5 mill increase for patrons of the old Dollarway district and a 9.7 mill hike for residents of the former Altheimer district.

Board President Cathy Hunt said a number of public meetings will be held in various locations in the Dollarway district to explain the proposal to patrons.

Following an executive session, the board accepted three resignations Tuesday, including one from head football coach George Shelton, who was named the new head football coach at Watson Chapel High School on Monday.

Cortez Lee, assistant coach, was named the interim head coach at Dollarway, effective with Shelton’s resignation on Feb. 29.

The board also approved the hiring of two employees and the termination of an aide at the high school.