Schools would have to publish their budgets and expenditures online under legislation moving through the Georgia General Assembly.
House Bill 659 by Rep. Dave Belton, R-Buckhead (in Morgan County), presents a list of operating and facility costs that would have to be disclosed on a school system or charter school website. Districts already have to present this information, but the legislation requires transparency at the school level.
Financial mismanagement and alleged theft from an Atlanta charter school drew attention to charter school finances last year. In July, the Latin Academy Charter School's board of directors reported that more than $600,000 was taken from the school.
When asked by the Senate Education and Youth committee whether his bill would have exposed that issue, Belton said he thought it would have. The bill has already passed the House of Representatives. It remains in the Senate committee.
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