The AJC has sifted through the education portion of the federal stimulus package, which passed the House last night, and has broken out how much each Georgia school district would receive.

As it currently stands, here’s what City Schools of Decatur would get over the two year period…

2009

Title 1:  $224,200

Construction: $732,300

IDEA:  $275,300

2010

Title 1: $224,200

IDEA: $333,700

2009-2010 Total: $1,789,600

The AJC explains “Title 1” and IDEA in their glossary as follows…

“Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): A federal law saying schools must provide free programs to meet the needs of students with disabilities. Their disabilities range from physical impairments such as blindness to emotional or behavioral handicaps to specific learning problems that affect one’s ability to process information.

Title I: Federal funds that target schools and districts with a large number of students living in poverty.”

That $732,300 for construction would be just a splash in the bucket of the potential Renfroe addition/renovation, which the Superintendent recently estimated would cost between $10-12 million.  The 5th Avenue renovation was estimated between $5-6 million.

I guess we would be naive to think the county would take all these annexation attempts lying down.

As Cranky (“Vote Cranky!”) recently pointed out in a comment, the DeKalb County Commission recently voted on a resolution that expresses “support for restraints on annexations that are done not to provide new services to an under-serviced area, but simply to increase a municipal tax base and legislation to allow property owners to de-annex themselves from municipalities.”    The full three page resolution can be read here (pdf).

Assuming that the commission voted in favor of the resolution (still seeking confirmation of this), it will head to the DeKalb County Delegation to the Georgia General Assembly.

Obviously, this request is being made in reaction to all the recent annexation attempts being made by DeKalb cities.  Our mayor hasn’t been shy in saying that the main reason to consider annexation is increasing the commercial tax base.

But all this resolution seems to urge is adding a layer of red tape into the annexation process.  Instead of allowing the directly-affected constituents of a community to decide whether they want to accept the annexation of a city, the county seems to be urging that someone else should make the decision about whether an annexation attempt is valid.

But who will make this decision?  A judge?  How does a city prove that its not out to increase your tax base?  How bad do DeKalb County services have to be to be judged as “under-servicing” their constituents?

Welcome to the next chapter in the city/county battle for our property taxes!

The DeKalb History Center’s Leslie Borger writes in with details about their “Historic DeKalb County” book release party on February 12th from 6-8pm at the Old Courthouse (where else!?).

The evening will feature remarks from the author (Vivian Price) and artist, a Silent Auction, and book-signing.  Beer and wine will be provided by Parker’s on Ponce, while DeCuir Catering will provide hors d’oeuvres.

If you didn’t purchase an advance copy, the book will be available for purchase at the event.

All other details can be found HERE (pdf).

WABE reminded me on my ride in this morning that tonight is the night to dine out at participating Atlanta metro area restaurants and bars to help contribute to the Crime Stoppers Atlanta reward fund being offered in connection to the Standard shooting of John Henderson.

Over 70 Atlanta area restaurants are currently participating.  (See full list here)  Each are encouraged to donate 20% of profits from the evening to the fund, however any amount is gladly accepted.

According to a map on the Atlantans Together Against Crime website, these four Decatur restaurants are among them:

• Raging Burrito
• Twain’s
• Universal Joint
• Steinbecks

Tacqueria de Sol is also on the list, though the Decatur location isn’t mapped.  Can anyone confirm/deny the Decatur Tacqueria location?

What does DM do when he drops the ball and can’t make an important city function?

He creates an open thread and hopes to piece the event together through comments and links to other sites!

So…what did the mayor talk about last night?  Annexation?  C-2 next to R-60?  Higher taxes?  Falling real estate prices?  Property tax assessment cap?  HOST?

OK, maybe I was wrong.  Maybe I was interested in the Doraville annexation and just didn’t know it.

18% turnout?

Wow.  That’s pretty lazy.  (Hmm…that’s kind of judgmental.  Might be better to call them a “passive electorate”.)

Oh, by the way, the iniative didn’t pass.

Robert Elrod, who was instrumental in organizing the recent Trackside fundraiser at Corner Pub, reports…

The owner of Trackside (Doc Al Czarkowski) father died yesterday at Dekalb. It seems impossible that all this could happen to one person, but it has.

This Saturday at 2PM at Turner Funeral home in Decatur, there will be a service for him…. Doc’s father was a welcome fellow whenever he was in town at the Trackside and many of the patrons knew him well. Since the fire, Doc has not been able to get to his email list from the Trackside, and we’d like as many folks as possible to be made aware.

My deepest condolences Al.