Investing in Our Future: Understanding School Millage

 


"I hate paying taxes, but I LOVE the civilization they give me."

                            - Oliver Wendell Holmes

  Taxes is seen as a dirty word.  When we hear it, we automatically assume a negative mindset.  Understandably so.  We don't often feel like we see any benefit of those dollars or we feel like the money is being used inappropriately.  

  Before I got into the superintendency, I served as a city councilman in my small community.  The mayor was wanting to institute a local sales tax that would generate around $50,000 per year for the city.  The purpose was to add another patrol officer to the police department.  We invited the community to come and listen and speak on this proposal.  During that meeting, one community member voiced opposition to the tax.  He felt that community members already paid a "premium" to live there and an additional tax was too much.  He was not argumentative or combative, he just clearly and succinctly stated his thoughts.  However, towards the end of the meeting, he raised his hand and made the statement that he wanted the mayor to know that folks had been speeding by his house and he was concerned about the safety of the children in the neighborhood.  He then asked if we could increase the police presence in the area to help with the speeding offenders.  

   This summarizes how most people feel about taxes.  We don't like paying them, but we enjoy the services that they provide.  The gentleman wanted more services, but didn't want to pay for them.  Again, I understand the sentiment and have felt it myself on many occasions.  We live in a world where we expect everything we BUY to be priced low, but everything we SELL to be at a premium.  

  Public education has always been one of the cornerstones of strong communities. Here in Arkansas—and especially in communities like ours—our schools are more than buildings where students attend classes. They are places where young people grow, learn, compete, perform, and prepare for the future. They are gathering places for Friday night football games, band concerts, academic competitions, and community events.

  Because schools play such an important role in our communities, it is important that we all understand how they are funded. One of the most significant pieces of that funding puzzle is school millage.

  What does "Millage" Mean?

A mill is simply a unit used to calculate property taxes.

  • 1 mill = $1 in tax for every $1,000 of assessed property value.
  • Assessed Value = In Arkansas, assessed value is 20% of appraised value.
So, if a property is appraised at $100,000:
  • Assessed value is 20% of $100,000.  ($100,000)X(0.2) = $20,0000
  • 1 mill = 1/1000th of assessed value.  ($20,000) /(1000) = $20 per year.
 A portion of your property taxes goes directly to your local school district, and that is called the school millage rate.

Why Schools Use Property Taxes

  Public schools in Arkansas are funded through a combination of:

  • State funding

  • Local property taxes (millage)

  • Federal funding (money can only be used for specific purposes)

  Local millage is important because it allows communities to invest directly in their own schools. These funds help cover the daily operation of our schools,  such as:

  • Teacher salaries

  • Classroom materials

  • School transportation

  • Student programs and activities

  • Building maintenance and safety upgrades

  In many communities like ours, the local school district is one of the largest and most important institutions serving families and students.  While the State of Arkansas provides foundation funding to help ensure an adequate education for all students, local millage allows communities to invest directly in their own schools.

Current Millage for Two Rivers

  • The current millage rate for Two Rivers is 35.6 mills.  
  • 25 of those mills are required by the state as a minimum.
  • The State average millage rate is 39.21 mills.
  • Two Rivers is in the bottom 16% of schools in terms of millage rate (84% of schools in the state have a higher millage rate than we do.) We are ranked 197th out of 234.
  • 55% of non-federal funding comes from local taxes.  45% come from the state.

Why Communities Sometimes Vote on Millage

From time to time, school districts may ask voters to approve additional millage. These requests typically focus on long-term investments such as:

  • Constructing new facilities

  • Renovating aging buildings

  • Improving safety and security

  • Expanding opportunities for students

Importantly, these decisions always rest with local voters. That is one of the strengths of our system—our community has a direct voice in how much it chooses to invest in the children of the community and its schools.

Schools and Community Are Interconnected

Strong schools contribute to strong communities. Two Rivers understands that and our role in making that a reality.  Over the past 5 years, the faculty and staff have accomplished amazing things in terms of improving the educational experience we provide:

  • Increased academic performance reflected in a significant increase in school letter grades
  • Increased opportunities in career and technical education
  • Expanded course offerings
  • Opportunities for college credit (tuition free.  We pay tuition to UACCM for our enrolled students who meet admission standards)
  • Re-vamped Pre-School that is a top performer in the region
  • Received state-wide recognition for academic growth of students
  • Graduation rate is increasing
  • Students are earning more scholarship dollars that ever before.
  • School supplies provided for all students
  • Free breakfast and lunch for all students

In many ways, a school district reflects the priorities of the community it serves. When a community invests in its schools, it sends a powerful message that education matters and that the future of its children is worth supporting.

Looking Ahead

As superintendent, I have the privilege of seeing firsthand the incredible work happening in our classrooms every day. I see dedicated teachers investing their time and energy into students. I see students achieving great things academically, athletically, and artistically. And I see a community that cares deeply about its schools.

Understanding school millage is an important part of that partnership. It represents a community’s commitment to providing the resources necessary for students to succeed.

When communities support their schools, they are not simply funding buildings or programs—they are investing in the future of their children and the long-term vitality of their community.

And that is an investment that benefits us all.


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