The tax hike was originally proposed back in July.
The board wants to increase the amount of property taxes it will levy by a little more than 30-percent.
However, the board says they are not increasing the rate at which the properties are taxed.
Under Georgia State law, local governments are expected by default to “roll back” the property tax rate to account for inflation and other value increases.
The Catoosa County School Board is choosing not to roll back the property tax rate, meaning the total dollar amount paid will go up.
That same state law then requires them to notify the public of the potential tax increase and hold public meetings about it.
One of those meetings was held at theCatoosa County Board of Education Tuesday.
Most residents questioned the proposed 30-percent tax increase.
But others argued this was good for the future of the county’s students.
Catoosa County resident Catherine Shanks says…
“We are now at very serious risk of losing our house with six children.”
Catherine Shanks says paying more in property taxes could push her finances over the edge.
Under this proposal, a resident with a home valued at $275,000, the owner would pay $383 more per year.
“We are already under high inflation, we’re on fixed income. Our kids are having to work two, three, and even four jobs to support their children,”Radonna Tims says.
Several other residents expressed their concern about the proposal by the school system.
But Catoosa County Superintendent, Chance Nix, says it’s necessary, because state funding for education is not fully paying all the bills.
Local communities are expected to fill the gap.
“In this partnership, it’s important to remember that the state is the controlling partner,” Nix says.
Nix says that taxpayer money will go towards:
- State mandated health care increases for teachers
- School buses
- Nurses & SRO’s in every school
- And school custodians and maintenance
Educator Caitlin Martin, who is president of the Catoosa Education Association, says…
“We have almost 10,000 students who are going to suffer if we don’t fix the gap that the state has created.”
Martin says having a better school system will benefit the whole county, not just those with children in school.
“I really hope to see our community take that energy and start talking to the people at the state level on those education committees and really helping them understand what everyday citizens are facing,” Martin says.
There is another meeting at 6pm Tuesday for the Board of Education to hear more from Catoosa County residents.