Politics & Government

Decatur School Board Delays Annexation Decision

The board wants more information before it makes a recommendation to the city commission on proposed annexations.

Decatur School Board members said Monday night they need more information before making a recommendation on annexation.

They voted to delay action for at least 30 days. The school board could decide at a special meeting late next month or wait until the regular monthly meeting on Dec. 11.

The recommendation will go to the city commission, which has sole authority to decide whether to proceed with annexation.

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Board Chairman Marc Wisniewski said he wanted a study committee to come up with projections on how land value might change for annexed areas.Β 

"Using only current values is not significantly insightful," he said.

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A study committee delivered a 24-page report that said annexation would force the school stystem to quickly build or expand buildings, raise taxes and cut programs.

Wisniewski said two of six areas considered for annexation--the ones including the Publix shopping center and Suburban Plaza--had the biggest financial upside for the schools.

How annexation would affect the schools is one of the major factors in the annexation debate. The city already has already the fastest-growing school system in Georgia, with back-to-back years of 12 percent increases in student enrollment.

The city commission will hold another public hearing Dec. 3 and decide Dec. 17 whether to move ahead with an annexation referendum.

Citizens would vote on annexation in November 2013.


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