- Annexation accelerates the eventual need for construction (e.g., additional buildings, renovations).
- Annexation causes CSD to need additional revenue.
- False: just removing paying tuition students will alleviate this challenge.
- Annexation causes a cash flow challenge at the beginning of the 2014-2015 school year.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
CSD Financial Project
After the first Annexation Workgroup meeting, three CSD employees (Susan Hurst, Kiawana Kennedy, and Thomas Van Soelen) were charged with taking an initial stab at financial implications to CSD due to potential annexation. The document is housed here. The short points are as follows:
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I have a question. I chose to move in the city limits and pay higher taxes in order to send my kids to CSD. Does this mean that areas that are not paying City taxes will get the same benefit of CSD without the cost? I hardly think that's fair. Why would people buy in the city limits (and pay high taxes) if they can send their kids to our schools without the cost. It would also decrease the resale value of my home b/c the annexation areas would be more desirable than houses in the City.
ReplyDeleteIt is my understanding that the taxing structure for potentially-annexed areas would be the same as current city residents. Thus, only the value of the home and who lives in it (e.g., exemption-eligible) would factor into tax amounts.
DeleteWhat are the financial breakdowns by potential annexation area?
ReplyDeleteMy understanding is that the City is not considering an all-or-nothing approach, and that there may therefore be some potential annexation areas or combination of the areas that actually produce a financial surplus for CSD and/or ameliorate the additional student load (I'm thinking specifically of commercial properties, though there may be residential areas that meet these criteria as well).
The Mayor shared publicly at the last Commission work session that the annexation areas were to be considered as a whole package - "all or nothing."
DeleteI think he meant that each area was to be considered as a package. Not that all of the areas together were to be considered as a package.
DeleteDid he explain why?
DeleteYour findings indicate that the proposed annexation will greatly burden our school and inevitably lead to increased taxes. What possible benefits of the annexation outweigh the impact on the schools? Why is this still on the table? I don't think there is a single citizen of Decatur (and I am confident there isn't a single parent with children in CSD) who would favor any proposal which would negatively impact the education our children receive and/or lead to higher property taxes?
ReplyDeleteNor does the Annexation Workgroup - so we are curious what we might be missing. Perhaps there is a perspective or data point that we have overlooked...
DeleteI am with "Anonymous". In the short term at least there is a financial burden on the City. Based on the report the only upside is for the to be annexed areas. Why would this go through?
ReplyDeleteI haven't read through all the documents but any significant increase in CSD enrollment seems like something to be avoided right now. Our current class sizes are too big, we don't have a plan to manage current growth (how does the 4/5 model work with a big influx?). I would need to see a MAJOR strategic analysis of very big changes to facilities plans, teachers hired etc etc to warrant any voluntary large increase in enrollment. We can't seem to catch our breath with even the current base don't you think?
ReplyDeleteReminder to everyone: Please post your name as per our Code of Ethics for Responsible Blogging.
ReplyDeleteTo the CSD moderator: Where can we find the plan for handling the projected enrollment increase? This is a legitimate question. We're already seeing an ever-increasing influx of families with young children
ReplyDeleteAnother "anonymous" posted wondering about CSD's plans to manage enrollment growth.
ReplyDeleteItems of note:
Enrollment Committee's report to the Board January, 2012: https://eboard.eboardsolutions.com/Meetings/Attachment.aspx?S=4052&AID=351747&MID=22747
Enrollment Committee's presentation to the Board January, 2012:
https://eboard.eboardsolutions.com/Meetings/Attachment.aspx?S=4052&AID=348787&MID=22747
On October 9, 2012, the superintendent has an action item asking the board to approve a master planning service to assist us:
https://eboard.eboardsolutions.com/Meetings/ViewMeetingOrder.aspx?S=4052&MID=27110
And one more...
ReplyDeleteBoard action item to spend SPLOST proceeds on the following:
Addition at Oakhurst
Addition at Fifth Avenue
Renovation of old gym at RMS into classrooms
Preparing Westchester for students
and more
https://eboard.eboardsolutions.com/Meetings/ViewMeetingOrder.aspx?S=4052&MID=25109
Thank you for launching this blog to capture feedback on the proposed annexation. I echo the comments here in that I'm extremely concerned at the prospect of dramatically increasing the number of students in CSD without a commensurate expansion of facilities, teachers and administrative resources.
ReplyDeleteThis is critical as the schools are already bursting at the seams. My son is in first grade at CSD and his class already has 25 children. Aftercare programs are oversubscribed. As it is, we're on the edge of diminishing the value of the schools because they are simply under too much strain.
We need an honest plan, to expand school services before we even talk about whether to annex.