Friday, July 6,
2001
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School board OK's half-billion-dollar budget By JOHN
THOMPSON
The Fulton County Board of Education gavefinal approval last week to a $559 million general fund budget that could see a tax rate reduction for property owners. The general fund budget 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. Several items, though, did not make the cut in this year's budget. 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 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. The board approved millage rates for FY2002 at 18.26 mills for maintenance and operations and .76 mill for debt service. The total millage of 19.02 mills reflects a 1.13-mill reduction from last year. This is the second consecutive year of full millage rollbacks and the fourth reduction in ten years. 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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