Brace yourself.
This year — as the Columbus school district struggles with decreased allocations from the state, lower local tax collections and the bill for a new $19.1 million school — taxes will go up, again.
The increase affects hundreds of taxpayers in Columbus and Lowndes County.
In a meeting Tuesday night, five city-appointed community members and Interim Superintendent Martha Liddell led a public hearing on the matter.
The news was grim: It will take a couple million additional tax dollars to offset last year”s $900,000 shortfall, the loss of state-issued stimulus dollars and to start paying back $22 million in bonds issued to build the new middle school.
We”re not accountants. We haven”t scrutinized every line item of Columbus Municipal School District”s budget. But we hope the school board members have.
Already, their proposed budget includes spending $51.88 million, but they”re only expected to take in $43.51 million ($14.33 million of which would come from local taxes). Even the most math-challenged among us can see that”s a serious deficit before you”ve even begun.
The district won”t get the entirety of the 9-mill tax increase it needs to keep its head above water. The community wouldn”t stand for a tax hike of that magnitude.
But taxes are going up. The question is, how much? Chances are we won”t have an answer until at least Aug. 15, when the school district will look to the Columbus City Council for final approval of the district budget.
The news was shared with about two dozen concerned citizens at Brandon Central Services. By contrast, across town at the Columbus Municipal Complex, about 150 people showed up at a city council meeting in support of now-fired Columbus Police Chief Joseph St. John.
The local school districts” budgets have much further-reaching consequences. As the city of Columbus loses population — 2,300 people in the past 10 years — its taxable property goes down, and the rest of us are forced to pick up the slack, in the form of higher taxes.
Over the past years, the city schools showed a willingness to spend money to meet their goals. The school board hired an innovative superintendent — Del Phillips — and under his leadership, committed hundreds of thousands of dollars to the magnet school concept, with high-ticket programs like International Baccalaureate and a fine arts curriculum.
It”s been a whirlwind.
The changes will take time to set in, and we”re optimistic they will yield positive results. But right now, it”s time to tighten the belt. Higher taxes is only part of the solution the district”s money woes. Cutting the fat is another.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.