https://youtu.be/nllZMv6fsFw?si=mj0M-tOYx-bQjSQj

Does The Hall County BOE Have to Have a Yearly Budget Meeting? Let's Investigate

During the lengthy, for them, Hall County School District Board of Education meeting on July 14th there was one topic that flew right over everyone's head at the moment. It was a comment by Superintendent Will Schofield that the BOE should be able to pass their yearly budget without holding a hearing and have public input. Then Jonothan Boykin, the finance officer, responded and made a statement that they had to.

Schofield seems to think that since they have to accept the tax rollback and are not increasing millage rates for the 2025-26 tax year that they don't have to have a public hearing on the budget. One would think after 20 years in office he would know the law on this. Boykin says yes, Schofield says no. The video clip of the interchange will be posted below.

We did some digging, as we only want the truth, and emailed some of the board members and we got some responses that surprised us. I will not reveal the emails as we don't want to throw anyone under the bus. It is not fair. The only thing that we were able to confirm is that the Hall County School Board is a dumpster fire. They prove to be incompetent and don't seem to care to even try to find answers for taxpayers that contact them.

Who is Actually in Charge Here?

People need to remember that Schofield works for the Board of Education. Not the other way around. The way these meetings go and how they are ran, you would think Schofield called the shots. Our Chairman does nothing at these meetings.

One of the elected members refused to answer the email with anything other than the budget has been posted on the Board of Education website and sent the link to the PDF. Here that is 2025/2026 Proposed Budget. Never mentioned anything. Wasn't even concerned with it. This is unacceptable and doing nothing but passing the buck. They could have at least asked the county attorney or someone who may know. Here is the board of education simbli eboard where they post things, Link.

We got another email that detailed how the process would go. Here is a synopsis of what was sent, and then I will post the State Law and links to the pages.

If a school district or local government chooses a millage rate above the rollback rate, then THREE hearings must be conducted before the entity can finalize the rate. If the district chooses a millage rate that is the same or less as the rollback rate, then only a ONE hearing is required.

Here is the State Statute and a link to the source it is from

"(f) At least one week prior to the meeting of the governing authority at which adoption of the budget ordinance or resolution will be considered, the governing authority shall conduct a public hearing, at which time any persons wishing to be heard on the budget may appear."

Source: Justia.com

You can click the arrows to go back or forward to read the entire law.

What is the Rollback Rate When Determining Property Taxes?

What is the rollback rate? The rollback rate is the millage rate at which a homeowner's tax bill would theoretically stay the same amount as the previous year. This would be true even if the assessed value of their home increased.

At the July 14th meeting the suggestion for a full rollback for the coming year was discussed. If the board members agree with a full rollback, then ONE SINGLE public hearing would be held. The hearing would be at one of the board meetings in August or September, the way it is looking. It will depend on when the board of education receives the final tax digest from the tax commissioner’s office.

No one knows when this will be as they State of Georgia is way behind because of the Statewide implementation of Georgia House Bill 581 in this last election. For those that don't know what HB 581 is about the Cliff's Notes are below.

"HB 581, also known as the "Save Our Homes Act," aimed to provide property tax relief by capping the increase in assessed home values to the rate of inflation. However, local governments and school districts were given the option to opt out of this provision"

Hall County Board of Education did not opt out, like the County Commission. So they have to figure in this bill and the local ordinance that put even further restrictions on how much they could increase property taxes. It is more strict than they State. We will do a whole other column on this. Too much to include in this one.

The meeting could be anywhere from August through October. So now we wait.

I apologize if some of these recordings are hard to hear. The Board of Education refuses to make people speak into the microphones. They also refuse to put their meeting online in an archive so one can go back and watch them at any time. They live stream them so they stay in compliance of State Law. That is it. We do the best we can to make an archive and post the meetings for the ones who can't make it.

You can see all the Board of Education meetings, and other videos, we have recorded at the North Ga Advocate YouTube page.

Hall County BOE Exchange Between Schofield and Boykin:

Entire July 14, 2025 School Board Meeting

You can contact everyone at the Central Office and the Board of Education at the links below.

Hall County School District Central Office: Link

Hall County BOE Members: Link

Last regular meeting of the Hall County Schools Board of Education for the 2024-25 School Year. Two citizens spoke at the meeting about important topics.

This is the June 9, 2029 Hall County Board of Education Work Session. There was a training session afterwards that they do not stream live. A little bit of it was cut out as I had some issues with the recorder. Nothing important. They moved the next meeting to June 30th with the delay in the tax digest. Schofield is not present. Suzanne Jarrard first meeting in her new role, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning. Jarrard did serve as Executive Director for Secondary Education. She took over the job held by Deputy Superintendent Kevin Bales, who retired at the end of the school year.

Hall County School District Board of Education regular meeting from June 30, 2025. This meeting was delayed a week because of not having budget numbers from the State because of the passing of State, and Local, bills regarding increases in property taxes on home with homestead. To see the transcript hit the "more" button and hit view transcript. I apologize it is not on the video itself.

^^^Disclaimer -- Hall County Board of Education refuses to turn their microphones on and make their speakers speak into them. So any discrepancies in the transcript created by YouTube is not our responsibility. We usually transcribe them ourselves, but with so much silence, or low voices, there is no way to do so.

The HCSD Spends Tens of Thousands of Dollars on Rent

The Hall County School District (HCSD) Central Warehouse is located on a property which is rented by the HCSD. Odd since the HCSD owns over 70 properties, amassing more than 1600 acres. These properties range in size from 0.25 to 163.46 acres. Some are small tracts surrounding currently existing schools, while two are somewhat unusual. One is the "eyesore" in downtown Gainesville which is currently for sale. The other is a vacant 36.11 acre lot on Highway 52 in the East Hall area.

This discovery was made after a full list of HCSD Properties was compiled. The location of the HCSD Central Warehouse at 961 Chestnut Street was unexpected. Upon review of the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget, line item #485 with Account Description "Rental Of Land Or Buildings" (having a descriptor of "Warehouse Rent") had a budgeted amount of $70,000..

 

 

 

On October 8, 2024 an open records request was submitted for a copy of the basic general ledger entries for this item. After some initial clarifications, it was produced on October 11, 2024 as follows.

A review of this ledger showed that the HCSD was paying $5,091.56 each month from August through January (with an unexplained extra $874.59 in November), then $6,372.88 each month from February through June, totaling $63,316.05. At the new rate of $6,372.88 per month, Fiscal Year 2025 will have a total rental of $76,474.76.

These findings were addressed during the public comments portion of the Hall County Board of Education meeting on October 28, 2024.

On November 8, 2024, an open records request was submitted for a copy of the most recent inventory of items stored at the HCSD Central Warehouse. The response was received on November 11, 2024. "Currently, we do not maintain a detailed, itemized list of every specific item stored within our warehouse. However, I am happy to provide a general list of the types of items typically housed there at no cost... Additionally, we would be pleased to arrange a tour of the warehouse at a time that works for you and our warehouse manager. This may provide a more thorough understanding of our stored resources and how we manage inventory."

A tour was set up the next morning with Dr. Brad Brown, Eric Radich, and Chris Cranford, The gentlemen were considerate and answered many questions. The warehouse was large, containing an emergency response trailer, a food service trailer, wooden bookshelves, desks, and chairs, math workbooks, world globes (along with many other discarded items), pallets of copy paper and surgical masks, massive quantities of hand sanitizer in gallon containers, a forklift, a staging area for items to be delivered to each school in the district, and sufficient room in the center aisle to park the district's four delivery vehicles.

When asked about the possibility of relocating the warehouse, Mr. Cranford indicated that the current site was perfect because large delivery trucks could back up to the loading dock and the delivery vehicles could be stored inside for added security. Questions regarding relocation to a vacant elementary school were met with a rebuttal regarding the 4 foot pallet width being too large for storage in classrooms. What about the gym at Riverbend Elementary? Delivery trucks would not be able to access it because of the terrain. What about the gym at McEver Elementary? *Silence.* Finally it was stated that security would be an issue. Interesting since the HCSD Maintenance Building is on the back section of the McEver Elementary property, which is fenced in and secure.

What feasible solutions could meet the need for storage and daily deliveries? Should HCSD build a permanent warehouse, convert a gym, convert a cafeteria? Should the property on Stallworth Street be kept and used? Is it more cost effective to continue renting a $76.000 facility, which will never go down in price?

We are a local organization that is committed to reporting local news that is fair and unbiased. You don't always get that in the local news in the Northeast Georgia area. Especially in Gainesville and Hall County. We are a group that is not being paid, but have a belief that the people of the area deserve truth in reporting and should be able to come to their own conclusions. Please consider to donate to help our cause..

Update: April 2025

Information from the original article on this Gainesville property (shown below) was discussed within a local Facebook group, which evidently got the attention of the Hall County School District (HCSD) Central Office staff. During the HCSD Board of Education meeting on March 10, 2024, Superintendent Will Schofield read the following statement. It is being recommended that the property located at 4 Stallworth Street, consisting of 2.41 acres, be listed as surplus in order to sell the property.

Once the superintendent's recommendation was approved, the grass was cut on the property and For Sale signs erected, but the buildings are in obvious disrepair.

Original Article:

The Hall County School District (HCSD) owns at least 72 properties, covering over 1,600 tax exempt acres in Hall County. One of these properties, located at 4 Stallworth Street, has become an eyesore for residents behind the old Gainesville Cotton Mill.

The Gainesville Cotton Mill, a school, a clinic, and residential homes were built in the early 1900s when the textile industry was established in the area. The property was owned by the Pacolet Manufacturing Company and was deeded to Milliken & Company on December 29, 1960. The original deed contained a restriction that this particular property could be only be used for public school purposes. However, the school burned in 1973 and was not rebuilt. Subsequently, the Gainesville Mill ceased operations in 1985.

Milliken & Co. sells Gainesville property to the HCSD

On August 25, 1987, Milliken & Company submitted a Quit-Claim Deed and a Removal of Restrictions to the Hall County Clerk of Courts. Milliken & Company sold this property to the Hall County Board of Education for a sum of $10.

A brief visit to this property, located at 4 Stallworth Street, revealed a 1.62 acre lot in utter disrepair. The Gainesville Mill Clinic has broken windows and debris littering the entrance. The second building has windows and doors boarded up with plywood. With no fencing or barriers, vandals have painted the brick walls with graffiti, while weeds are growing in any spot of dirt around the building and in the parking area.

HCSD Adds Classroom Building to Gainesville Property on Stallworth Street

There is a lone sign on the property in front of the one-story structure which indicated that the Lanier Technical College Adult Education center had been located on the property at some point, but had been moved to the college's property.

In reviewing the Parcel Information (00031 007001), there were building permits filed in 1999 and 2001 for new construction. Based on the age of the buildings, it appears that the one-story structure was erected in 2000 at a cost of $353,463. The current value of the buildings and property are listed as $558,356, as it has been for many years.

Given the condition of the property, it seems doubtful that the Board of Education has plans to use it in the future. Since the property is tax exempt, the HCSD appears to be under no obligation to maintain and care for the property. This is showing a disregard for the residents living in the area, as it is unkempt and attractive to vandals. Do the newest members of the Board even know the property is in the portfolio of the HCSD? What is the current value of the property? As homeowners are being pressed to fork over more and more of their income to fund the HCSD, would it not be beneficial to all for this property to be sold to a developer that might improve the area for the residents, allowing the HCSD uses these funds to give homeowners a break?

We are a local organization that is committed to reporting local news that is fair and unbiased. You don't always get that in the local news in the Northeast Georgia area. Especially in Gainesville and Hall County. We are a group that is not being paid, but have a belief that the people of the area deserve truth in reporting and should be able to come to their own conclusions. Please consider to donate to help our cause.