Last week: Does Fayette County have to choose between more teachers or lower taxes?
Last week, just before the Fayette County Board of Education voted on its new budget, we asked for community comments about the county’s priorities. The board voted 5-0 last Monday to approve a $184 million plan that includes hiring more teachers, giving existing teachers and staff 2 percent raises, and restoring high school assistant principals and some elementary school parapros, which had been cut in recent years due to revenue losses.
This year, property tax revenues have rebounded and the school system ended its fiscal year with a $27 million fund balance, which the board voted to “spend down” somewhat so that this coming year’s fund balance would be $18.4 million.
Board member Barry Marchman voted in favor of the budget but expressed concerns about the increased staffing, per-pupil spending and sustainability. He suggested that the county consider a millage rate reduction to lower property taxes, and/or put a cap on school spending.
Here’s what some residents had to say:
The teachers in Fayette County need all the help they can get. I have a daughter and son-in-law who have been teaching in the Fayette County schools for over 20 years. They told me last week that they now make 12 percent less than when they started teaching. People want to move to Fayette County because of the schools. The Fayette County Board of Education needs to raise their pay more than 2%. They wonder why there is a teacher shortage! They need to wake up and smell the coffee. — Raye Black (retired from the Georgia Department of Education)
Honestly, they already have us capped at the highest [millage] rate they can take. Other counties with better scores take less. Why do we have to take more? It's time to give the money back to the citizens. I have found that paying more for something doesn't ever get me quality. It gets me the same cheap brand with lots of sparkles to cover up the reality of what it really is. — Martine Yancey
Why do we have to choose? There must be a way to get quality education at an affordable price. Even people who don't have kids in the public school system benefit when the community has a well-educated population. Call me Pollyanna, but I think there is a way to have it all. — Anonymous
— Jill Howard Church for the AJC
Homeowners in Dunwoody whose houses gained value over the last three years will get money back because they were overcharged on their property tax bills.
The error occurred because Dunwoody officials didn’t notify the county, which handles the city’s tax billing, after voters approved a tax exemption during a November 2010 election. An overwhelming majority — 81 percent — of voters approved the measure.
The tax break provides residents with a discount on the city portion of their tax bills to negate tax increases caused by rising home values. There’s even legislation to extend the exemption into 2022.
Once the county recalculates taxes, the city will be billed and then refund checks will be mailed to residents. Nobody caught the mistake until the AJC asked why the tax break wasn’t included on property appraisal notices. Once the error came to light, the city was quick to work on a solution.
Dunwoody and Brookhaven are the only two cities in DeKalb that give residents an assessment freeze for the city portion of property taxes. School taxes aren’t covered by the tax exemption.
After everyone gets their money back, should this just be chalked up to a breakdown in communication or a glitch in the system? Or should the tax appraisal notice process be readjusted? Should the city or the county be required to pay interest on money that taxpayers didn’t receive in a timely fashion? What do you think? Send your comments to communitynews@ajc.com. We want to hear from you.
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