Friday, June 15, 2001
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Friday, June 15, 2001 |
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Board passes $150 million budget By JOHN
THOMPSON
Coweta County property taxpayers will see a jump in their bills next this fall after the Board of Education gave final approval to a $150 million budget Tuesday night. The budget is approximately 8 percent bigger than last year's budget and features an additional $4.1 million in spending to lower the student-pupil ration in third grade and provide funds for extra classrooms at White Oak Elementary and Poplar Road Elementary schools. Currently, the system's tax rate stands at 17.83 mills for maintenance and operation, but passing this budget requires the board to raise the rate to the maximum 20 mills. The increase would cost the owner of a $100,000 home an additional $81 and change. School officials have warned that, since voters turned down an extension of the special purpose local option sales tax in March, a tax increase would probably be needed to continue funding for the rapidly growing school system. But board member Smith Pass said taxpayers could see the millage rate lowered next year if voters give approval to another SPLOST referendum next March. Superintendent of Education Richard Brooks agreed with Pass's assessment and pointed out that SPLOST funds cannot be used to pay for teachers' salaries. They can be used only to fund capital projects.
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