By CHARLES MINSHEW

Special Correspondent

ABBEVILLE — Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Charles Bloodsworth, Wilcox Board of Education members voted Thursday to keep the millage rate at12.61 mills for the upcoming year.

Members of the Board met during a specially called meeting and accepted Bloodsworth’s recommendation based on information that a property revaluation completed two to three years ago had benefited the school system.

Members Jill McDuffie, Raymond Johnson and Donnie Clark were present for the special meeting. Ken Arant and William Dozier were not. No citizens attended the meeting held at the board's new office in the former Abbeville school.

The millage rate has been at the same level for a number of years. Bloodsworth said the last millage increase was in 1998. At that time, the rate was 13.61. Since then, the rate has dropped.

The millage rate affects property taxes and the money collected through any increase goes to the school system. A hike of one mill would increase school system revenues by around $144,000.

The board will vote on the school system’s budget at its next regular meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 12. Bloodsworth told the board that the budget would be tight, but “it is one that the system can operate on,” he said.