The Georgia House of Representatives voted Friday to dramatically reduce the overall size of a grant program set up to make sure poor school districts can provide an education that’s on par with what students in more affluent districts can receive.
Some legislators and school district officials don't like the change -- which would reduce the amount of money districts would receive in fiscal year 2013 from $832 million to $492 million -- because it would limit how much money districts can receive.
So-called "equalization" grant money has been distributed to districts since the late 1980s based on a complicated formula tied to the number of students in a district and its potential property tax wealth. Changes in the formula under House Bill 824, written by state Rep. Mike Dudgeon, R-Cumming, would not affect most metro Atlanta districts, but a pair of area districts would come out ahead if it becomes law and if the state fully funds the program.
Under the new formula, which the House approved 143-23, Gwinnett County Public Schools would receive $43.5 million in fiscal year 2013, $3.5 million more than it is receiving this fiscal year.
Clayton County Schools would receive $27.86 million in fiscal year 2013 under the new formula, $4.37 million more than it is receiving this fiscal year.
But Cherokee County Schools, which is getting $404,500 through the program this fiscal year, would receive no money through the program in 2013.
Cherokee officials are unhappy with the change, noting that the original formula would have netted the district $4.6 million in fiscal year 2013 if the General Assembly had fully funded the program.
Legislators haven't fully funded the program since fiscal year 2009, and there remains no requirement that the state give districts all the money they are eligible to receive.
Cherokee County officials said the state needs to find a fairer way to help districts meet education costs.
“Our school system has children in trailers,” state Rep. Sean Jerguson, R-Woodstock. “We’re cutting music and the arts.”
Jerguson, who grew up in Cherokee County and was the only House member to raise questions about Dudgeon’s legislation when it was debated on the floor, said many counties receive grant funds despite having school tax rates that are “artificially low.”
Dudgeon’s legislation, now headed to the Senate for consideration, also would require that districts levy a minimum property tax rate of 12 mills by 2015 in order to get grant money. Districts can get more grant money if they raise their property tax rates.
“This gives a reward for effort,” according to a summary Dudgeon supplied to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Jerguson, however, said the minimum tax rate is still too low, which allows some counties to get state grant money without first looking to local property tax money to cover their education costs.
Janet Read, vice chairwoman of the Cherokee County School Board, said the district has almost reached the maximum rate it is allowed to levy by law.
“We’re doing our fair share now,” Read said. “We had to raise our millage rate last year. Other counties are enjoying a lower rate.”
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