CAIRO — Grady County Board of Education officials lowered the millage rate for the first time in six years. 

The Grady school board adopted a tentative millage rate of 13.8 mills. The current millage of 14.2 remained the same for six years. 

Chief Financial Officer Dan Broome discussed a millage rate range of 13.7-13.9. 

“The less you lower it this year, the more options it will provide you next year,” Broome said. 

A 13.7 millage rate would bring in the average amount of the tax digest of the last six years and a 13.8 millage rate would bring in approximately the same amount from 2012, Broome noted. A 13.9 millage rate would bring in approximately $169,000 more. 

Broome also noted a lower millage rate could result in an estimated loss of $135,000 in state funds due to an increase in local fair share. Local fair share, Broome said, is affected by tax growth and the loss of state funding would result due to digest growth. 

The potential loss in state funds would not be noticed until another year or two, Broome said, adding he could “almost guarantee” a millage increase the next fiscal year. 

Following adopting the tentative rate, board member Jeff Worsham said he agreed with the rate, but would have liked the rate to be lower. 

The Grady school board also adopted a tentative budget of $42.9 million. 

Along with the tentative millage and budget, Superintendent Dr. Kermit Gillard discussed a list of projects and estimated expenditures. 

Big-ticket expenditures include a camera system for $51,499.70, $80,000 for demolition of Southside’s old elementary wings and a $100,000 renovation post demolition. 

Other notable projects include a $5,000 expenditure for pressure washing and painting the ROTC building, $29,400 for new desks and $9,275 for chairs at Cairo High School’s College and Career Academy.  

“I think those projects need to be done ASAP,” said John White, vice chairman.  

The school officials approved the desk and chair purchases, a total of 350 each. 

The school board also gave consensus for Gillard to seek pricing on privacy fencing in the Southside parking lot. 

Four new paraprofessionals for each of the four elementary schools also are noted in the school district’s budget. 

Reporter Jordan Barela can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1826.