Friday, June 1,
2001
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School board may reduce tax rate By JOHN THOMPSON
The Fulton County Board of Education gave tentative approval Tuesday night to a budget that could see a tax rate reduction for property owners. If the reduction receives final approval, some homeowners' actual tax bill may still increase because the value of their homes has increased. The general fund budget is $559 million, which includes a 4 percent salary increase for all employees. Other items in the budget include: $5.6 million for three charter schools. An additional $11 million for Fulton's contribution to the state's Local Fair Share Program. Funds to accommodate anticipated student growth. $2 million to grant additional credit, up to seven years, to teachers with experience in other systems. Funds to improve the new teacher induction program, support an alternative certification program, and peer diversity and cultural awareness programs. Added to this list during Tuesday's called meeting were stipends for lacrosse coaches, high school extramurals and seventh grade intramurals. Several items, though, did not make the cut in this year's budget. Eliminated from the budget are funds for off-grade testing on the Stanford 9, the new test that has replaced the Iowa Test of Basic Skills in Georgia schools. The test will now be given only in grades three, five and eight, as required by the state. The purchase of school buses, textbooks and curriculum assessments were delayed until 2002-2003, as were several instructional technology, maintenance and operations items. Also delayed was the roll-out of a new team approach to evaluating student progress. Class sizes in summer school increase in the new budget, while funding for summer school support personnel decreases. Furniture and equipment purchases were eliminated, computer upgrades and field maintenance were reduced, and reductions were made in operating costs for personnel, student services and staff development. Reductions were made throughout the system in professional contracted services and out-of-system travel. The tentative budget is revenue-neutral. This means that the property tax rate must be rolled back to offset any increased revenue due to property reassessments. The board anticipates a rollback of approximately one mill for operations and .05 mill for debt service in the final budget. At the meeting, the members approved a tentative millage rate of 19.35 mills for maintenance and operations and .8 mill for retirement of debt, a total of 20.15. But at its June meeting, after receiving the tax digest, the board is expected to approve a rate of 19.1 to reflect the increase in property values. A mill is one dollar per thousand dollars of a home's assessed value. Assessed value is 40 percent of the market value, minus any exemptions.
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