Cobb board approves millage rate hike to fund school system

The Cobb County school board has adopted a general fund millage rate of 18.90 mills for the next school year.

To collect the same revenue as last year and avoid an increase in taxes of nearly 6 percent, the millage rate would have to be decreased to 17.825 mills, the “roll-back” rate.

The additional revenue will be applied toward the higher cost of student instruction due to enrollment growth, and to ease budget constraints caused by reductions in state revenue, according to the Cobb school system.

When property values and tax assessments rise, more revenue would come without a tax rate increase.

Georgia law requires the school board to conduct three public hearings if it does not adopt the “roll-back” millage rate. The last hearing was held on Wednesday, before the board voted to adopt the millage rate.

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