Public Hearings On Oconee County Board Of Education Proposed Millage Rate Start On Monday

***Represents A 5.6 Percent Tax Increase***

Oconee County citizens get the first two of three opportunities on Monday to tell the members of the Board of Education how they feel about the Board’s decision not to reduce the school property tax rate despite the increased assessed value of county properties.

The Board voted earlier this year to use some of the increased tax revenue from the growing tax digest to offer a one-time $1,250 bonus to all employees and an additional permanent increase of $1 per hour for custodial staff, bus drivers, and school nutrition workers.

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners, by contrast, decided to make a very slight cut in the county’s millage rate.

For Second Week In A Row, Northeast Health District Reports Increase In COVID-19 Cases

***Vaccinations Continue At Low Rate***

The Northeast Health District added 245 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on Friday. The District added no new confirmed deaths attributed to the disease.

The 245 added cases of COVID-19 and no deaths compare with the 180 new cases and one confirmed death added in the week ending July 9.

The average of 35.0 new cases per day for the week ending on Friday compares with the average of 25.7 new cases per day for the week ending on July 9.

Town Of Bishop Overestimated Revenue From Dollar General Rezone And Annexation–By A Lot!

***No Sales Tax Gain At All***

The Town of Bishop will receive only a small amount of sales tax revenue from the planned Dollar General on High Shoals Road at U.S. 441, not the $80,000 annually projected by town leaders in April when they annexed and rezoned land for the convenience store.

The amount of money the town will receive–less than $550 annually if company estimates of sales are correct--is exactly the same as the amount it would have received had Dollar General located outside the town limits.

Gordy Family Owns Two Parcels In Oconee County That Could Accommodate A Varsity Restaurant

***Advertisement Announces Plans For Restaurant In County***

The Varsity Restaurants announced its plans to build a new store in Oconee County in a full-page advertisement in the Athens Banner-Herald on Sunday, followed by a posting on its Facebook page on Monday.

That Facebook posting led to a story at the top of the front page of the Banner-Herald on Tuesday. The paper had written several stories about the recent closing of the restaurant on West Broad Street at Milledge Avenue.

The Oconee Enterprise also put the announcement in a short story on the front page of its Thursday edition.

Oconee County’s State Legislators In Strong Position At Beginning Of New Election Cycle

***All Three Have More Cash On Hand Than In 2019***

Marcus Wiedower, who represents nine of Oconee County’s 12 precincts in the Georgia House of Representatives, has more than 10 times the campaign cash in hand than he had at this time two years ago.

Houston Gaines, who represents the remaining three Oconee County precincts in the Georgia House, has nearly three times the amount of funds as he had at this point in the off-year in 2019.

Bill Cowsert, who represents all of Oconee County in the Georgia Senate, has slightly more campaign money than he had in his campaign account two years ago.

Northeast Health District Reports Large Increase In COVID-19 Cases In Last Week; Increase In Hospital Cases As Well

***Administration Of Vaccines Declines***

The Northeast Health District added 180 new cases of COVID-19 in the week ending on Friday and one new confirmed death attributed to the disease.

The 180 added cases of COVID-19 and one death compare with the 63 new cases and no confirmed deaths added in the week ending July 2.

The average of 25.7 new cases per day for the week ending on Friday compares with the average of 9.0 new cases per day for the week ending on July 2.

Oconee Director Of Elections And Registration Explains Changes In Election Law At Democratic Party Meeting

***Use Of Absentee Ballot Drop Box Greatly Restricted***

The large drop box installed in front of the Oconee County Elections and Registration Office last year to make it easy for county voters to cast an absentee ballot is a thing of the past.

The drop box has been replaced, Oconee County Director of Elections and Registration Rebecca Anglin told county Democrats at their meeting last month, by a different one inside the office itself.

Voters will be able to use the new drop box only during the regular hours when the Elections and Registration Office at 10 Court Street opposite the Courthouse in Watkinsville is open to the pubic, Anglin said.