Small property tax hike considered for Atlanta school system

Atlanta property owners might be asked to pay a little extra in taxes to help rid the city’s school system of a $550 million pension debt.

Members of the Atlanta Public Schools Pension Fund Task Force on Monday discussed the possibility of a voter referendum on a bond issue partially funded by a property tax increase of half a mill — about $25 a year on a $200,000 home.

If approved, the idea could save the school system between $300 million and $350 million over the next 20 years.