County school mill levy expected to be higher

Hill County taxpayers will likely have to pick up a $512,043 tab for the county's school retirement and transportation budgets.

The county's mill levy is expected to increase by 18.85 mills to cover shortfalls in the school transportation and elementary and high school retirement funds, according to Hill County Superintendent of Schools Shirley Isbell.

The mill increase is a result of action taken by the Legislature to close a projected state budget deficit during last month's special session. The Legislature cut the amount of block grant and other money that would have gone to the county fund...