The Decatur School Board has put a special work session on its calendar for next Monday, February 23rd at 6:30p to discuss the $82 million GO Bond the school system has asked the City Commission to put before voters in November.
AJC’s Bill Banks reports…
The discussion will likely focus on the potentially dramatic increase in taxes created by an $82 million bond referendum the board will ask city commissioners to put on the ballot in November.
The millage would shoot up to 4.84 by 2017, meaning the additional annual tax on a $300,000 home would be $726.51, on a $500,000 home $1,210.86 and on a $700,000 home $1,695.20. “The tax implications are huge, and we have to solve them,” Board Chairman Garrett Goebel said during an interview with the AJC. “We need to minimize the impact of taxes because we don’t want to drive the older resident out of the city.” The work session is open to the public. The school board will make its presentation before city commissioners March 2.
The meeting will take place at the City Schools of Decatur Central Office at 125 Electric Avenue in Decatur.
It’s not that they especially want to keep the older residents. It’s just that the older residents don’t have kids, and are keeping Decatur houses occupied, which keeps new famines with kids from moving in.
New famines with kids sounds frightening
“… Because we don’t want to drive the older residents out of the city.”
Fair Market Value. It’s the law. Dekalb Tax Assessor office needs to get this correct across the city.
I am going to repeat this comment and bring it up at the meeting until it gets some traction. I refuse to vote for any bond request until the tax digest is up to date. I believe that we have great schools, which is what brought our family to Decatur in 2007. We are part of the “wave” because we didn’t have kids when we moved here, but now have 3 with the first starting kindergarten next year. I have no problem paying taxes for our schools, and would not have problem paying even more if it was truly necessary. If, after the tax digest is updated, we are still in a financially precarious position, I am fine supporting an increase in taxes. But not until then.
Fix the problem before asking for more money.
+1000
It isn’t that I don’t agree with you that assessments need to be addressed. But, and despite other posters directing you to the applicable statute, you still fail to grasp that CoD has little, if any, control over DeKalb’s tax assessor. CoD can ask or even beg DeKalb to act, but if DeKalb refuses or does a poor job, there isn’t a thing CoD can do. But, feel free to hold CoD hostage for something it can’t control.
Plus, if/when the bond passes, and then the digest is updated over the next two to three years or assessment cycles, we will end up with a surplus and our taxes will be reduced. I just don’t think the problem is anywhere as big as you think it is, and it won’t cover the revenue shortfall.