The first two of three public hearings on raising the property tax rate for Dalton Public Schools are today.
Both meetings are at Dalton City Hall with the first at noon and the second at 6 p.m. Dalton Board of Education members will hold the hearings today and a third hearing on Monday, Sept. 13, at 6:30 p.m. before taking a final vote. At issue is a proposal to raise the property tax rate from 7.845 mills to 8.134 mills. A mill is a $1 tax for every $1,000 of value.
Officials have said the increase would bring in an extra $1 million for the school system, and it translates to about $30 extra in taxes for a Dalton homeowner with a property value of a little more than $100,000. The proposal came about after school board members learned the expected local property tax revenue they based their $56.7 million budget on earlier this year was going to be about $1.2 million less than they thought it would be.
Superintendent Jim Hawkins said federal stimulus money will offset that loss, but school officials would probably have to seriously consider raising the property tax rate next year. Board member Rick Fromm said it would be better to raise the rate gradually two years in a row than to levy a big increase all at once.
Dalton-Whitfield Chamber of Commerce President Brian D. Anderson Sr. said the chamber on Tuesday sent out an e-mail link to a survey to about 1,600 addresses. He said the mailing list includes representatives from all of the chamber’s member employers, but some employers have more than one person on the list.
The survey asks participants whether they “support an increase in Dalton Public Schools taxes at this time” and to explain why or why not. It also asks, “On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being strongly disagree and 10 being strongly agree, do you feel the Dalton Public School system has sufficiently explored all budget cuts possible?” The last question asks “What recommendations would you offer to close the budget gap facing Dalton Public Schools?”
Anderson said he doesn’t plan to make any statements on the chamber’s position at today’s hearings, but he’ll share the survey results with chamber board members once the information is compiled, and the board at that time can decide whether to take an official position on the tax increase.
“We do try to solicit feedback on things at different times specifically when it comes to policy issues,” Anderson said. “We’ve probably done more of it during the January to March time frame when we’re watching state level legislation, but we also look (year round) because federal and local policies can occur at different times.”
Mayor David Pennington has publicly opposed the tax increase and said he plans to meet with the board to ask the members to reconsider and will likely be at today’s noon meeting. Pennington said raising taxes would hurt the city’s already struggling economy.
Earlier this year, school board members approved trimming $5 million to arrive at the $56.7 million budget. More information about the budget is posted on the system’s website, www.daltonpublicschools.com, under the “Budget Update” link on the left side.
Education
Dalton Public Schools: Two hearings today on proposed tax increase
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Dalton schools budget draws almost $2 million from reserves
Dalton School Superintendent Jim Hawkins, left, speaks as board of education members Danny Crutchfield and Rick Fromm listen during a six-hour board meeting retreat. Matt Hamilton/The Daily Citizen
Dalton Public Schools Superintendent Jim Hawkins said he’s no longer expecting a big economic bounce back to solve the school system’s budget concerns.
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Northwest students place high, take tech to next level
Several Northwest Whitfield High School students placed high in the Sequoyah Regional Georgia Educational Technology Fair.
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Dalton student on GPS May Court
Christian Bryant of Dalton has been elected to the May Court at Girls Preparatory School and will serve as crown bearer to the May Queen during the May Day festivities in April.
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Northwest Whitfield High School Sweetheart Court
Northwest Whitfield High School's Tip Off Club hosted the 2012 Sweetheart Dance at the school recently.
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Art student’s work on exhibition
Gary Sanchez Soto will represent Murray County High School in “An Artistic Discovery: The Congressional Art Competition” at the Derrell C. Roberts Library on the campus of Dalton State College.
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Professor to speak on the Oscars during 'Lunch & Learn' program
Jonathan Lampley, assistant professor of English at Dalton State, will present “The Oscars: Winners, Losers, and Weird Moments” in the College’s James E. Brown Center, room 105, on Feb. 15 from noon to 1 p.m.
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Local high schools recognized for AP classes, exams
State School Superintendent John Barge named several local high schools as Advanced Placement (AP) Honor Schools.
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The Perfect Polish
Cosmetology and Skills U.S.A. at North Murray High School recently sponsored a community service project in which Donna Blankenship’s students gave manicures to the residents of the Murray County Senior Center.
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MCHS accepts letterman's jacket
James “William” Butler’s family presented his letterman’s jacket to Murray County High School Principal Gina Linder during halftime of a varsity boys’ basketball game recently. The jacket, which has a “1962 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP” patch on it, will be displayed in the school’s trophy case. Presenting the jacket to Linder were Butler’s nieces, Chloe Brown and Ashley Strong; his wife, Patsy Butler; his daughter, Robin Baggett; and his grandchildren, Jaden and Janna Baggett.
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Mountain Creek Academy honors December teacher of the month
English teacher Jennifer Weninger (center) was selected by her peers as December’s Teacher of the Month at Mountain Creek Academy. Principal Paula Martin (right) and Curriculum Instructor Facilitator/Counselor Jennifer Lents presented her with the award.
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Mountain Creek Academy honors December staff of the month
Mountain Creek Academy Lisa Sanford, center, accepts a certificate from Principal Paula Martin and Counselor Jennifer Lents (left) as she is recognized with a December Staff of the Month award. Sanford has worked at Mountain Creek for 12 years.
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Med students visit Murray High
In December, students from Murray County High School and North Murray High School were invited to meet with fourth-year medical students Allen Ligon of Augusta and Heath Petty, an MCHS graduate.
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Gladden honors December student of the month
Joey Ecklebarger is the December 2011 Gladden Middle School Student of the Month. Joey is motivated and puts forth great effort in all classes. His behavior and attitude towards school, other students and teachers is also outstanding. Sean Hammond, Joey’s social studies teacher says of Joey, “He is great to have on our team.”
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Coker honors students for Week 14 good behavior
As part of Coker Elementary School’s PBIS or Positive Behavioral and Interventions Support system, students that follow the school expectations are recognized each week for their Great Behavior.
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Gladden students use Facebook in lessons
Gladden Middle School eighth-grader Shaley Stafford shows her Facebook page model on the book “Alice in Wonderland.” Eighth grade reading teacher Keith Rollins had his students choose a book from the library to do a book report on. However, this was not an ordinary book report. After the students read their book, they were to do their report by making a Facebook page about their book.
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