Area schools saying no to new taxes

School boards in Northwest Georgia will meet this week to deal with the governor's recent request for furloughs and more budget cuts.

Despite difficult financial situations, school leaders said they aren't raising taxes.

"For the second year in a row our board took action and placed millage at a rollback amount that caused no increase to citizens on the behalf of the Board of Education," Walker County Superintendent Melissa Mathis said in a prepared statement.

A mill is equal to $1 in taxes for every $1,000 of taxable property value. Homeowners' property tax bills include the county government's millage rate, a state millage rate and the school system rate.

Gov. Sonny Perdue announced Tuesday that school systems need to cut budgets by an additional 3 percent and that he also will withhold funding for three days of teacher pay. He suggested that systems furlough teachers on training days.

"We have set our millage rate," Catoosa County Superintendent Denia Reese said in a prepared statement. "We did not increase taxes, so we will not have additional local revenue."

Boards in Whitfield and Dade did not increase millage rates either.

School boards in Catoosa, Dade, Walker and Whitfield will meet this week to discuss budgets and they may need to prepare for more cuts.

Systems are being asked to prepare for 4 percent, 6 percent and 8 percent cuts, Mrs. Mathis said.

"The statewide conference call with Superintendent (Kathy) Cox foretold of more cuts to be expected throughout the year, plus the possibility for more furlough days after January, 2010," she said.

Superintendents said they are working to balance the tax burden while providing a good education for the region's children.

"We must not compromise on the next generation," Mrs. Mathis said. "We must be responsible to all. We are poised to do the work and avoid a breaking point for our schools."