Decatur Schools Raise Millage Rate

DECATUR, GA — Citing increasing enrollment that has outpaced the local tax digest, the Decatur school board raised its general operations millage rate at its meeting Tuesday night. The board adopted a millage rate of 20.250 mills, an increase of 1.590 mills over the current millage rate of 18.660. This is the first change in the millage rate in four years.

"Enrollment growth in CSD has been steadily outpacing the growth in the tax digest," the school board said. "Adjusting for inflation, local tax revenue has dropped approximately 35% per student since 2011."

For every $100,000 of a home’s fair market value as determined by DeKalb's tax assessor, the increase will be no more than $79.50 per year or $6.63 per month, the school board said. Homes with a general homestead exemption will see a slightly smaller increase and those with a senior homestead exemption will see no change.

The school board said the increase will help fund these projects:

• The opening of Talley Street Upper Elementary for the 2019-20 school year. The school board said it is a typical practice to raise the mill rate by 1 when opening a school.
• Hiring 20 more teachers.
• Increasing teacher salaries, including extending the full $3,000 salary increase recommended by Gov. Brian to all CSD teachers.
• Cost-of-living increases of 2% for all non-teaching positions.
• Developing instructional materials.
• Hiring additional positions such as a social worker, school psychologist, bus drivers, custodians, and maintenance staff.