Return Stimulus Money to the Taxpayers
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The AJC reports that Georgia school systems will soon receive millions in federal “stimulus” dollars. Because the amount could not be anticipated, the Gwinnett school finance staff has not included the funds in its calculation of next year’s budget.
The money could be spent on a one-time purchase of equipment or technology or used to train and/or retain personnel. The feds are encouraging schools to think “creatively and differently.”
Here is my idea for “porkulus dollars” in Georgia—return them to the taxpayers. Rather than spend the “found money” on new stuff, the school system should use it to reduce Gwinnett property owners’ tax burden via a significant tax cut.
Last year, Gwinnett property owners paid over $607 million in taxes for schools. Because the system operates on a different fiscal year, its financial situation hasn’t received the same scrutiny that the county government has in recent months. But school taxes are based on essentially the same tax digest, the value of which is being depressed by the slowed economy and thousands of value appeals. It is possible that Gwinnett property owners could also face a school tax increase as well as a county tax increase which could reach three mills.
The best kind of economic stimulus will always be consumers spending their own money as they see fit. If the true purpose of the Obama spending spree is to stimulate the economy, that can best be done by allowing you and me to spend our own money, rather than using it to potentially grow government.
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The uncertainty discouraged Fulton, Gwinnett and other school districts from including the stimulus money as they prepare budgets for the 2010 fiscal year. Gwinnett school leaders, who are developing a list of priorities, will amend the budget once they review the spending rules and receive the money, spokeswoman Sloan Roach said.
Schools ponder how best to use stimulus funds | ajc.com
