Oconee County School Board Approves $82 million Fiscal Year 2020 Budget With Millage Rate Drop

***Budget Includes Raises For All Employees***

The Oconee County Board of Education last week approved unanimously an $82.3 million Fiscal Year 2020 budget that includes a decrease in the millage rate from 17 to 16.5.

More than half of the revenue in the budget--55.0 percent--comes from the state, with local sources, primarily property taxes, contributing the remaining 45.0 percent.

Oconee County Commission Moves Forward With Construction Plans For Malcom Bridge Road Roundabouts

***Contract Awarded For First Of Three Roundabouts***

Oconee County commissioners are going forward with plans for construction of three roundabouts on Macolm Bridge Road, with construction on the first–at Mars Hill Road–to begin this summer.

Construction of roundabouts at the bus entrance and the parent entrance to Malcom Bridge Middle School will take place at a later date, after the county gets new bids for the former and finalizes plans with a developer for the latter.

Lobbyist For Georgia Equality Reviewed 2019 State Legislative Session For Oconee County Democrats

***Praised Bill Sponsored By Rep. Gaines***

Shannon Clawson, lobbyist for Georgia Equality, told Oconee County Democrats last month that her group had a mixed record during the 2019 Georgia legislative session.

Clawson pointed to passage of a number of bills that she said served the interests of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities of the state.

Oconee County Water Rates To Increase Only Slightly in Proposed 2020 Fiscal Year Budget

***Sewer Rates Unchanged***

Oconee County Water rates will increase only by pennies and sewer rates not at all as part of the $52.3 million Fiscal Year 2020 budget released to the public last week at the front of the usual Board of Commissioners meeting.

The occasion was the first formal public hearing on the budget, and only one citizen spoke in response.

Congressman Tells Oconee County Gathering That Memorial Day Is Day Of National Commitment Not To Forget

***Comments Made At Veterans Memorial***

Memorial Day is a day of national commitment not to forget those who lost their lives in defense of the country, Rep. Jody Hice told a crowd gathered today at the Oconee Veterans Memorial in Oconee Veterans Park.

Hice thanked those who turned out to honor “those who have given their lives” and their families who have suffered the loss as well.

Oconee County Planning Commission Recommends Against Impound Lot in Farmington

***Approves Expansion of Oconee Health Campus***

When Ben Hanley made his pitch last Monday before the Oconee County Planning Commission for an impound lot in Farmington, he had a nearly full room of citizens seated behind him.

Hanley said the county needs a second tow operator and impound lot, and he proposed expanding his Madison County business into Oconee County to meet that need.

Oconee County Commission Chair Proposes Moving Forward With Roundabouts At Malcom Bridge Middle School Entrances

***Cites Safety And Traffic Concerns***

Oconee County will go forward with construction of three roundabouts on Malcom Bridge Road, two at entrances to Malcom Bridge Middle School, if the Board of Commissioners next month approves plans put forward at the Commission meeting Tuesday night.

Construction of two of those roundabouts–at Mars Hill Road and Malcom Bridge Road and at the bus entrances to Malcom Bridge Middle School–could begin this summer.