More Georgia school boards balance spending cuts and millage rates

While Muscogee and Chatham County school districts are considering property tax hikes to deal with thorny school budgets, DeKalb County is looking at spending cuts instead.

The AJC has reported that in DeKalb, “The tax rate will remain at 22.98 mills, which is the third highest in Georgia for schools, board chairman Tom Bowen said.” Budget savings will include 289 cut jobs, bigger class sizes, teacher furloughs, and a pay cut for the county school board.

According to the Times-Georgian, Douglas County is also looking at teacher furloughs and a hiring freeze, although Douglas hasn’t ruled out a change to their millage rate.