Property Tax Roll Back

Bibb County School Board

March 9, 2010 Hearing

This evening I attended the Bibb County School Board hearing regarding Property Tax Roll Back. We first viewed a presentation regarding the Financial Situation confronting the Bibb County School System. The presentation established the fact that all school systems in Georgia are required by various State of Georgia mandates to perform certain task. All too often the funding to meed these mandated requirements is not provided.

After this presentation many citizens spoke to the Board. The comments generally related to the fact that increased taxes based on a defective Bibb County Tax Digest were causing a lot of problems for many home owners.

Others spoke to the fact that the Property Owners are the main source of revenue for school systems in Georgia. Others pointed out that expending more money would not solve the problems confronting our Bibb System. Several addressed the concept that discipline and good order would do a lot toward improving education versus simply taxing the citizens to expend more funds as the answer to the current problems.

The main thrust of many presentations was cuts, cuts, and more cuts are necessary. Citizens addressed the fact that many have made adjustments in their lifestyle to simply be able to enjoy meals and pay the bills and urged the School System to also do so.

Some addressed the fact that unfunded State mandates require the local citizens to expend resources. Several individuals suggested that as Citizens of the State of Georgia that we all, indeed each of us were part of the problem. Several suggested communicating with the State Lawmakers to provide the funds and let the individual systems perform the task of education. After all the Constitution of the State of Georgia requires a Public Education System. The problem as several addressed the Hearing was the education can best be conducted without all the hoops that Lawmakers require to receive State funding. After all, no one but for the Class Room Teacher knows the strengths and weaknesses of the Scholars so flexibility in the class room is required.

Others addressed the lack of discipline in the Bibb School System and the fact that the Tax Payers are not now receiving a good product for the funds expended.

It was a very informative meeting that was well attended. The Board Room was full and their was standing room only in the passageway outside of the board room.

At the end of the Hearing the President of the Board adjourned the meeting and then opened a meeting of the School Board to consider the Tax Mill Rate. After discussion the Board agreed with a vote of 6 to 2 to Roll Back the Mill Rate to be revenue neutral with a one mill increase over being revenue neutral.

I, as the Flower Child am glad I attended this Hearing and the following meeting.