LAST WEEK: IS ASKING TAXPAYERS TO FUND A $75 MILLION BOND FOR NEW SCHOOLS A GOOD IDEA?
Decatur will ask taxpayers for a General Obligation Bond to finance the renovation and new construction of City Schools Decatur buildings over the next five years. The school board is planning to ask city commissioners to approve a $75 million bond for the November ballot which, if passed by voters, would definitely raise taxes. The annual tax increase on those owning a $150,000 home would be approximately $204 and $953 on a $700,000 home. That $75 million, incidentally, doesn’t pay for everything — about 77 percent of CSD’s master plan for the next five years. Which means that more funding will be needed down the road.
We asked readers if they favored the bond or one of at least four alternatives: More temporary classrooms or trailers (There will be 20 to 25 of those spread throughout CSD next year); renting space from city of Atlanta or DeKalb County; split shifts for classes; or year-round school.
Here is what some had to say:
I am a retired tax paying resident of Decatur for well over twenty years and feel that awarding the school board $75M and putting that cost on the backs of the tax payer is unjust and ludicrous. This award is inconsistent with reason and logic because there 8 schools in the Decatur schools system with 4,540 students from pre-k to high school. Merging the pre-k and elementary schools would be viable solution instead of adding trailers. All of the options have not been exhausted. Also, when my children were school age, we were denied access to the city of Decatur schools because we live five miles outside the district. I am not interested or in a position to pay higher taxes when citizens who rent property are not affected and when there is no benefit for the retired community. Please look into other ways to compensate for your shortcomings. — Cassaundra Cain
With all the fraud in DeKalb county government it would be nice to see an audit of the system. I know a new school is being built next to me and a large old growth forest is being cut down for parking spaces for the school when on-street parking was fine in the past. Sounds like development to make some friends of politicians rich to me. Why wasn't money set aside in the past for aging schools? What happens to the money we already pay in taxes? Until people are able to see that the money is being spent more wisely my answer to higher taxes is no. —Eric
Of course I would like to see Decatur bring the city of Avondale Estates into their City of Decatur School system. In addition, it would be good if the Decatur School system could take over the current Museum School of Avondale Estates (in the old Forrest Hills school building) and eventually take over the Avondale High School building, if more structures are needed and if DeKalb County agrees. This would guarantee that children in Avondale Estates could attend the excellent City of Decatur School System schools, which would also raise real estate values in Avondale Estates significantly. The residential tax base in Avondale that the Decatur School System could draw from for needed funding would be substantial, while the burden of additional students would be minimal. Further, it would not be unreasonable for the city of Decatur to require that Avondale Estates "buy" into their school system, since residents would then be able to take advantage of a school system that was built over many years without Avondale's tax contributions. —Lynn Boyd
I am against financing the bond obligation for Decatur Schools solely on property owners. A number of years ago, Decatur misled the citizens into voting for a 50 percent property tax assessment by posing the issue in a misleading and convoluted manner. As a result of this and rising property values, the taxes in Decatur are extremely high. Decatur is one of the few jurisdictions that do not exempt most senior citizens school tax relief. After many years of paying for school taxes, I am unwilling to pay an additional amount. Decatur is forcing Senior homeowners to sell their property and move elsewhere. Why pay $7,000 + per year in Decatur property tax, when one could pay mere hundreds in Cobb County? When that Senior sells his property, guess who moves in ? A younger couple with more children to place in Decatur schools.. Perhaps Decatur should try something creative, like charging a supplemental tax based on the number of children each household has in the City Schools. —Steve Miller
Bill Banks for the AJC
Cities throughout Gwinnett County have been working hard to improve their downtown areas. Many have applied for and received grants through the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Livable Centers Initiative for the enhancement of existing centers and corridors.
As part of its LCI, Norcross plans to expand the downtown corridor by building a new library and parking deck between Lillian Webb Park and Buford Highway.
An obstacle to that plan is a 1.92-acre property at 5735 Buford Highway owned by Vosamis Properties Inc. The building, known for the past 20 years in the community as Plaza Latina, is home to a popular Hispanic marketplace and Western Union office.
At a special called meeting Tuesday, the Norcross City Council voted that it is in the “public interest and benefit” to acquire the property by eminent domain. An offer of $1.5 million to purchase the property was rejected by the owner in March. As a result, the city will proceed with condemnation proceedings in Gwinnett Superior Court to acquire the property.
Tenants reportedly have been warned they will need to move, but haven’t been given any dates yet. Merchants have told media that they’re concerned they’ll lose their livelihood if they can’t find something comparable that their established clientele will be able to access. Norcross Mayor Bucky Johnson has said the city will help the existing merchants find new locations.
Do you agree with the city’s use of eminent domain rights to condemn and purchase property for this use? Was there another way to satisfy all parties? Send your comments to communitynews@ajc.com.
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