When it comes to local public schools, the state has a revenue problem.  Just can't find anymore.  The best they can say is they funded the new equalization formula -- which was designed around how much money they have -- and the cuts are minimal, and that is a relief.  When it comes to other options, however, there seems to be some miraculous source of funding. 

 

(Apologies for the long e-mail but it's that time of the session when lots of bills are moving and changing.)   

 

SB 243, revising the provision for the tax credit scholarships, had a second hearing in the Income Tax Subcommittee of House Ways and Means today.  The bill's sponsor, Sen. Charlie Bethel, went over changes to the bill which was a good thing because there were no copies available beforehand or at the meeting.  Hopefully the Subcommittee members had one.  One of the reported changes is to raise the annual cap of the tax credits to $65 million.  The original cap was $50 million but the inflation index raised this year's amount to about $53 million.  They did remove the temporary annual inflationary increase. 

 

It has never been clear how the state could afford to give up $50 million in revenue, much less $65 million.  Supporters of the program say the state is saving money since it costs less for the student to go to private school than to fund the student sthrough QBE.  Really?  If we knew how many students were leaving a public school district and which districts, and how many had never attended a public school, then we could guesstimate much better.  In the meantime, the highest concentration of private schools participating in the program is in the core metro area.  The state spent an average of $2847 per student in the Atlanta Public School system last year; $3170 in Fulton; $3693 in DeKalb.  The organizations receiving this money are allowed to give a scholarship up to $9046.

 

The bill still reportedly requires a student attend at least six weeks of public school to be eligible with these exceptions:

The bill received a "Do Pass" and goes on to the Ways and Means Committee which meets tomorrow.  After it is voted out of that Committee, it will be online.  While they are considering ethics legislation, they might want to take a look at prohibiting members from voting on bills from which they receive a financial benefit.  At least one of the Subcommittee members said in the last hearing he contributes to a student scholarship organization.

 

Parent Trigger Just for Parents

 

Action on Other Bills

SB 101 is the new gun bill.  The House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee passed it on to House Rules.  In case you've lost track, the provision for allowing school boards to designate personnel to carry concealed weapons in schools is now in HB 35, HB 512, and SB 101.

 

HB 70, providing for a waiver process for the required public school attendance to be eligible for the special needs voucher, got a "Do Pass" out of Subcommittee and goes to the Senate Education & Youth Committee.  It was passed with the understanding that there will be amendments to ensure that the voucher is not greater than the amount the local district would receive from the state and that the payment could be cut during the year if needed.

 

HR 486, the Constitutional amendment to allow cities created after 2005 to establish a city school system, received a hearing but no vote.  All the speakers were from Dunwoody, and they are doing their homework.  They have set up a non-profit organization to work through; the City Council has authorized up to $50,000 for a feasibiity study; and they plan meetings in the fall after they have data on the feasibility and the impact on DeKalb.  The only cities eligible under this proposal are Sandy Springs, Johns Creek, Milton, Chattahoochee Hills, Brookhaven, and Dunwoody. 

 

HB 429 would add a reporting requirement for bullying incidents and make the third offense a misdemeanor.  It received a hearing only with no vote.  House Education Chair Brooks Coleman said a group of school attorneys continues to work with Rep. Randy Nix on discipline issues.

 

HB 197, amending the forestland protection grant provisions, passed Senate Finance with an amendment and is now in Senate Rules.  If an audit finds that the tax assessor or another official has knowingly abused the program, the grant for the schools would not be affected as they have no control over the process.  This is another program for which the state is struggling to pay its share.  They are currently paying on the 2011 digest.  The requested reimbursement by local governments was $17.2 million, and to date about $11.5 million has been paid.  The amount due for the 2012 digest is over $22 million, and the 2014 budget does not reflect that.  The reimbursement is required by the Constitution but we know how much that's worth.

 

HB 400, repealing a limitation on dates for bond referendum votes in counties of a certain size, passed out of the Senate State and Local Government Operations Committee and is in Senate Rules.  Rep. Chuck Sims said the population bills are now unconstitutional and need to be cleaned up.  There are 327 of them and many locations do not know they fall into the limitation. 

 

HB 537, repealing the population limitation on a local board member holding another county elective office, was also voted out and sent on to Senate Rules.

 

 

 

Thursday, March 21st