State Rep. Tom Taylor, R-Dunwoody, proposed a bill today that is a prod at DeKalb Schools.
And not a friendly one.
To the dismay of many county elected officials, the DeKalb County School District has not agreed to financially assist the redevelopment of the former General Motors factory in Doraville, a project predicted to produce thousands of new jobs in the region,
Credit: Maureen Downey
Credit: Maureen Downey
Doraville and DeKalb County officials say approval by the city, county and the school district is vital to secure $247 million in infrastructure bonds. But the school district has thus far declined to commit.
As the AJC reported: The DeKalb school district, which would need to provide more than half of the project's public funding, also may be reluctant. DeKalb schools have never participated in tax allocation districts, which have been used for other developments in the metro area including Atlantic Station and the Beltline, though the latter has been at the center of a dispute because of missed payments to Atlanta Public Schools.
Pressure on the school district is coming from all directions. In a meeting with DeKalb lawmakers a week ago, state economic development chief Chris Carr said, "We have an opportunity in our county to have the best site in metro Atlanta --- probably one of the best sites in the Southeast --- and we're on the verge of blowing it."
Now, Taylor is apparently adding to the pressure on the school district.
The legislation only applies to DeKalb, which has a tax rate for schools of 23.73 mills. The measure wouldn't affect city school systems like Atlanta Public Schools, which charges a 21.64 mill property tax rate rate.
The bill's language calls for the state to reduce its share of education funding by the amount a county school system exceeds a 20 mill tax rate. The legislation doesn't reduce the property tax rate that DeKalb residents and businesses pay.
So, Taylor wants to cut $56 million from DeKalb schools without returning a single penny to DeKalb taxpayers? Clearly, this is a symbolic gesture designed to deliver a message to DeKalb Schools.
Taylor did not return my phone call Thursday afternoon asking for the rationale behind his bill, but DeKalb Superintendent Steve Green sent me this statement at 10:30 Thursday night:
