However, school board member Dr. John Crooks said the board would then immediately vote to lower the millage rate back to its current level of 18.9 mills, freeing up $23 million in excess funds in SPLOST II to be transferred to the general fund. The phantom tax hike would not actually raise property taxes, but would reportedly be a legal way for the district to gain more money in its general fund for the fiscal year 2011 budget, which begins July 1. The district is facing a $126.7 million budget shortfall for FY11. In an April 20 Journal editorial, Crooks said the move has never been used before by the school board, which touched briefly on the issue at its May 4 budget workshop.
By law, the school board is only allowed to do one of two things with excess SPLOST money - either pay off debt or to pay down the millage rate.
Crooks said if the board decides to raise the millage rate to the maximum of 20 mills, he will make the motion to reduce it back down to 18.9 to free up the excess funds in from the second special purpose local option sales tax fund, and then transfer a portion of those excess funds, about $23 million, to the general fund.
Both Crooks and Alison Bartlett said they were fairly certain Sanderson will ask the board to raise the millage rate to 20 mills.
When asked if he believes he will have the votes to do this, Crooks responded, "You're darn right."
Regardless of whether the plan will work, Bartlett has reservations, saying: "My concern is we are not being good stewards of taxpayers' money. Our financial crisis is not going to be over this year. We've already acknowledged that it's going to be even worse next year. Are we setting ourselves to deal with that financial situation, or are we just doing a short-term fix?"
In order to free up the money, the board must first vote to declare that $76 million in leftover SPLOST II funds are, in fact, excess funds, an item that is on its agenda for Wednesday's meeting. In the agenda item, Sanderson recommends declaring the funds excess and provides a rationale stating, "approval will allow the transfer of approximately $23.6 million from the SPLOST II fund to the General Fund to offset a proposed millage rate increase from 18.9 to 20.0 mills in FY 2011."
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TELL them that with all of the increase in class size, wouldn't it be nice to encourage and send students to Oakwood High School? Wouldn't they like to not increase the drop out rate and to keep their AYP looking squeaky clean next year?
Campbell Dr. Grant Riveria 678-842-6850
Harrison Donnie Griggers 678-594-8104
Hillgrove Robert Shaw 678-331-3961
Kell Trudie Donovan 678-494-7844
Kennesaw Mtn. Dr. Kevin Daniel 678-594-8190
Lassiter Chris Shaw 678-494-7863
McEachern Regina Montgomery 770-222-3710
North Cobb Dr. Phillip Page 770-975-6685
Osborne Dr. Steven Milletto 770-437-5900
Pebblebrook Zinta Perkins 770-819-2611
Pope Rick Beaulieu 770-578-7900
South Cobb Ashley Hosey 770-819-2611
Sprayberry Edward Wagner 770-578-3200
Walton Judith McNeill 770-578-3225
Wheeler David Chiprany 770-578-3266
AND, call, email and write THEIR School Board members. ALL OF THEM!
Do Cobb school teachers, board members and staff have any clue how to balance a budget? Apparently, the least qualified of the U.S. population serve as teachers, administrators and school board members! (Hint: Compared to other professions, teachers rank the lowest in graduate entrance examinations. The inmates are running and ruining the assylum!)
A Harvard study in the mid-1990's disclosed the best way to increase student performance was to eliminate teachers' unions -- because the highest paid teachers have the lowest performing students.
Here's a thought: 1) eliminate teacher unions, as "industrial unions" -- those organized around the workplace -- have very little use in today's global economy; 2) eliminate teacher tenure; teachers are no different that those who work in the private sector -- they need to continually perform; 3) institute zero-based budgeting for each school budget year; 4) challenge teachers who have the most years of service to move into other grades, specialties, etc., thereby forcing them to perform better or get fired; 4) have a minimum competency exam for anyone running for school board positions.
Too bad education has such a group of misfits sucking up so many tax dollars! I wonder how private, religious-based schools can turn out better educated students with far less money spent per student??? Answer: It's not about the amount of money thrown at the challenge of learning!!! Wake up, folks! NO MORE SPLOSTS!!!
The comments about the "non paying of taxes by illegal aliens" is ludicrous. The Superintendent of Schools has no staff, legal authority, or responsibility to keep illegals out of the US or Cobb County. Take this issue up with law enforcement.
--LIMITED CONTRACTS AND PART TIME GO FIRST
--BAD EVALUATIONS GO SECOND
--SENIORITY THIRD
Yesterday, second year teachers with more seniority were cut because of "lack of experience in other districts."
AT WHAT POINT DID THEY MOVE FROM SENIORITY TO EXPERIENCE. THERE IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE THERE...
SOMEONE NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS... Is it legal?
The food department generates revenue for the county, doesn't take money away from it.. Call the county if you don't believe it.
I believe the early release is to due to the fact that HS has finals those last two days of school and they were sitting around the school for three hours until the bus came at 3:30. I don't know how that effects elementary and middle schools though.
why don't you cut THE BUSES, let the parents take kids to school. why don't you cut ALL SPORTS EVENT, let the parents take the kids to play on saturday and take them there. Why don't you cut FOOD in schools, let the parents take care of that, no one in this country suffers for hunger, there's always food on the table (food stamps etc,) , except for some exceptions of course.
Raising taxes, what an idiot this Fred guy is, i am sorry man, go HOME, GET OUT OF COBB!!!we are tired of paying taxes, more, more, more!!!
DING DING DING DING DING DING!!!! Tell her what she has won Johnny.
This board is a joke. $8 million in vacation perks for annual employees and you are only concerned that you may not be acting as a good steward of tax money????
I am glad to know that Gordan Pritz will walk away with $50,000 in vacation pay while my kids sit in classrooms with 40 other students.
"Leadership" is not the ability to criticize those around you. If so, the blog of this paper would be filled with leaders - myself, included. However, we don't elect bloggers...we want people in office that will make the tough decisions - not just arm chair quarterback.
In the past few weeks I have read of one recommendation from her - regarding the administrative vacation rollovers - that would reduce the shortfall by $8 million (barely 6 percent of the total shortfall for next year). In the meantime, she has had something to say about just about every other plan to reduce this huge deficit.
If Mrs. Bartlett wishes to impress her voters - lead. We beg you. Give us ideas. Show us that you don't only wish to ask questions and/or criticize your peers, but that you really have solutions to lead this county out of this mess. The children of Cobb County need you to lead and the parents of Cobb County elected you on the promise that you would do that very thing. LEAD!!! Leave the blogging to us.