T-U BOE OPTS-OUT HB 581

 IT  CAME  AS NO  SURPRISE WHEN  THE  THOMASTON-UPSON  BOARD OF  EDUCATION  VOTED UNANIMOUSLY  MONDAY   TO OPT-OUT OF  HOUSE  BILL  581--LEGISLATION PROPOSED TO  LIMIT  THE  INCREASE IN  TAX ASSESSMENTS  ON PROPERTY OF  HOMESTEADERS. THERE  WAS  A  BIG  CROWD  AT THE  CALLED  MEETING,  BUT THERE  WAS  NO TESTIMONY  AS  THE  MEETING  WAS  LIMITED TO A  BOE  VOTE. PRIOR  TO  HIS  RECOMMENDATION,  SCHOOL SUPERINTENDANT DR. LARRY DERICO EXPLAINED  THAT  THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS  MAINTAINED ONE OF LOWEST  TAX MILLAGE  RATES  IN  THE  STATE AND LAST  YEAR ROLLED-BACK THE MILLAGE  RATE FROM 14.01  TO  13.59.

DR.DERICO WENT ON  TO AIR HIS  CONCERNS ABOUT  581--NO  SUNSET PROVISION ATTACHED TO THE  BILL,  NO OPTION FOR  A  SALES  TAX REFERENDUM AS CITY  AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS WILL HAVE TO COVER LOST REVENUE, AND NO  SUNSET PROVISION WITH THE  BILL. DR.DERICO ADDED ITS  UNDETERMINED WHO  WOULD CONTROL  THE  ANNUAL  INFLATION  RATE OR IF  ANY  RATE  WOULD BE  YEAR  TO  YEAR--AN  INFLATION  RATE  EXPECTED TO BE AROUND  3%. MANY  SMALL  SCHOOL  SYSTEMS  IN  THE  STATE  HAVE VOTED  TO  OPT-OUT  OF  5