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School board signs off on millage rate

By JOHN THOMPSON
jthompson@TheCitizenNews.com

With little fanfare and almost no public opposition, the Coweta County Board of Education approved the millage rate for the 2005 tax season.

The rate remains at 18.59 mills for general maintenance and operation. That rate has remained the same for the last two years, said school system spokesperson Dean Jackson.

By adopting the same rate, the tax rate is effectively increased by 6.03 percent over the rollback millage rate.

The board also adopted zero mills as the rate for bonded indebtedness.

Jackson said in three public hearings about the rate hike, only one person showed up to voice opposition.

In other news, the board decided to rescind its current policy that only allows clear or mesh book bags on school campuses. The issue arose after board member Frank Farmer had heard from some parents about the difficulties associated with the mesh bags.

“These bags allow water to seep in and sometimes ruin the books,” Framer said.

In 2003, The school board had instituted a policy of only allowing clear and mesh book bags to try and prevent students bringing unwanted items to school. The bags allowed school officials to check the contents of the bags as students arrived at school.

Board member Mike Sumner was the only board member voting to keep the current policy in place. The new policy starts in the 2006 school year.