Bulloch County school district facing layoffs and tax increases with a massive deficit in budget

BULLOCH COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - Bulloch County is now facing the harsh reality of layoffs within the school district and an increase of property taxes for residents.

The Bulloch County school district is looking at a $15 million dollar deficit in their fiscal year 2027 budget that is going to impact Bulloch County residents no matter the outcome.

To understand how the board got to this point, WTOC sat down with superintendent Charles Wilson who broke it down.

“The board and I are trying to figure this out as fast as possible, so people have certainty,” said Wilson.

Superintendent Wilson says that the problem arose with the fiscal year 2026 plan.

He says several factors led to the deficit.

The first being the implementation of HB 581 tax relief equating to a $1 million loss.

The second, a massive loss in state funds.

“There were some additional funding adjustments in our state funding formula,” said Wilson. “They are easily explainable and understandable but that hit us with another 8 million profit burden.”

Wilson says the third reason for the deficit is spending on new SRO officers.

The other reasons given include increased athletic supplements and a property tax millage rate rollback.

Wilson says he wants to clear any confusion from the community regarding this deficit happening because of the loss of federal grants from the government that many other schools in the nation may be facing.

“I am not aware of any notification that says that we are not going to receive it and at this time of the year we typically don’t receive those kinds of notifications,” said Wilson.

Wilson says with inflation, this then creates the projected $15 million deficit for the year 2027.

A deficit Wilson says Bulloch County cannot afford.

So, notices of job eliminations for 2027 have already begun.

“Well, a year away has to start now,” said Wilson. “So, know already started conversations of elimination. We started at the district level with district support staff. We already notified those people. The other things being eliminated at the district level include our two alternative programs. We call that the TLC and the Life program.”

This massive deficit would translate to 125 teaching jobs having to be eliminated across the district.

So far, around 10 personnel positions have already been notified.

Wilson and the board are considering an option that would help decrease the number of layoffs needed.

However, this other option would mean increasing property taxes by raising the millage rate up to around 10 mills.

This would raise homeowners’ taxes as early as this fall.

“We are going to find our way through this,” said Wilson. “Right now, unfortunately the discussion we are having is creating anxiety for people and I understand that. I am sorry for that.”

Wilson and the board have called for a public special meeting for Wednesday July 30th to go over what this new millage rate will be for residents.

The meeting will be held at 4:00 p.m. in the boardroom of the Board of Education building.