Friday, June 10, 2005

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Board signs off on budget

By JOHN THOMPSON
jthompson@TheCitizenNews.com

Coweta County taxpayers should not see an increase in their tax bills after Tuesday night’s action by the Coweta County Board of Education.

The board unanimously approved a $135 million general fund budget for the 2005-6 school year that calls for no millage rate. This year’s budget is $8.2 million more than last year’s budget and is partially funded by a 4.7 percent growth rate in the tax base, said Public Information Officer Dean Jackson.

Still, the board may have to dip into its $8.5 million reserves to balance the budget, Jackson added.

“Last year, the board had budgeted using $3.7 million in reserves, but didn’t have to use any of it. This year, they have budget just over $3 million out of the reserve fund, but it’s too early to tell yet,” Jackson said.

This year’s budget also includes a $3.9 million reduction in state funds, which made it even more difficult to balance, said Jackson.

The budget includes a two percent cost of living raise for all employees, except for those at the central office.

Forty-one percent of the Coweta County School System General Fund budget is funded by ad valorem property taxes, and 55 percent of the budget comes from state sources (the remainder this year comes from other local sources and reserves). Local property taxes do not fund any programs outside of the General Fund budget, Jackson added.