Education
Education

Atlanta school pension solution sought

By Mark Niesse
March 18, 2014

Atlanta’s school system could rid itself of a $550 million pension debt by raising taxes or changing its payment schedule, according to ideas discussed Monday.

Pension Fund Task Force Chairman Jason Esteves said options include asking voters to approve a taxpayer-funded 20-year bond issue, increasing taxes to pay off the debt over 13 years or carrying the debt into the future.

The bond issue could save the school system $300 million, but it could also cost $100 million if the economy falters, according to actuarial estimates.

About the Author

Mark Niesse is an enterprise reporter and covers elections and Georgia government for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is considered an expert on elections and voting. Before joining the AJC, he worked for The Associated Press in Atlanta, Honolulu and Montgomery, Alabama. He also reported for The Daily Report and The Santiago Times in Chile.

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