Schools schedule work session on bond, tax hike

Decatur’s school board is holding a rare mid-month work session at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 23 at the Central Office/Beacon Municipal Center, 125 Electric Ave. The discussion will likely focus on the potentially dramatic increase in taxes created by an $82 million bond referendum the board will ask city commissioners to put on the ballot in November. The millage would shoot up to 4.84 by 2017, meaning the additional annual tax on a $300,000 home would be $726.51, on a $500,000 home $1,210.86 and on a $700,000 home $1,695.20. “The tax implications are huge, and we have to solve them,” Board Chairman Garrett Goebel said during an interview with the AJC. “We need to minimize the impact of taxes because we don’t want to drive the older resident out of the city.” The work session is open to the public. The school board will make its presentation before city commissioners March 2.