[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6376002,"mediaKeyId","2140671-fc4dec52d04462173871fcd934d2a74a","parentId",2140671,"title","SCCPSS finance committee reviews Georgia House Bill 581, weighing opt‑out and school funding impacts","audioSeconds",1110,"startMs",288000,"endMs",1398000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2140671-fc4dec52d04462173871fcd934d2a74a&start=288&end=1398","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2140671-fc4dec52d04462173871fcd934d2a74a/thumbnail_288000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6376002/Georgia/SCCPSS-finance-committee-reviews-Georgia-House-Bill-581-weighing-optout-and-school-funding-impacts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6376002-b834896c7327b94bae26c3bd670c0fa9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771167314&Signature=RCPrOF07Ckxmem8zThGusy3ksRmmDcGs-WDFdT62AF0-9Qjb72gseJnRiK1VwjNEi1C1DktC~rA20clfs7TqATGrtzu~Ez-mMmMuNFseBWL4yrjmhVkN8WFjsEZ65lUzCMzAanTbicCuVCW9kx4JyZGGK4jagp2ZazHJJoxMujr7xWI6yyHg9z49mUi6VZHdFNndyC6WIszeVg6eN3GxMhBM7xCjUQS9STlumy-KhHHL7x9jGQyrs8zFMw2XjU6iOa3y3vIXID8xyhcSMhnar5V1E~op8xAvn8Wnv7a-ONrE61Ys3bOhsYU6heVA5LT6KXnNyipFt21gq2B0TApVHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-01-22T20:22:53Z","article","What happened: At the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS) Finance Committee meeting on Jan. 15, 2025, district staff member Mister Jackson presented the provisions of Georgia House Bill 581 and explained choices the district faces about whether to opt out of the new statewide floating homestead exemption.

Why it matters: The bill creates a statewide floating homestead exemption intended to limit increases in taxable property values by adjusting an exemption amount each year and allowing the base year value to be increased by an inflation rate selected by the state. Local school districts that opt into the state program could see reduced local property tax revenue and related reductions in Quality Basic Education (QBE) funding from the state; jurisdictions that opt in may be permitted to levy an additional 1% local sales tax to offset revenue losses.

Details of the bill and comparison to local law: Jackson summarized how the floating exemption works with two illustrative examples. In one example, a property with a $100,000 taxable value that rises by $10,000 would see the exemption float to $10,000; if the state raises a district's base value by an inflationary rate (Jackson used 2% as an example), the adjusted base reduces the exemption's offset in the example from $10,000 to $8,000. Jackson told the committee the law was signed April 18, 2024 and was approved by voters the previous November.

Jackson compared the statewide measure to Chatham County's existing Stevens-Day homestead exemption, noting two primary differences the district must evaluate: Stevens-Day has historically limited eligibility to properties smaller than five acres, while HB 581, as written, applies statewide to homesteads; and HB 581 gives jurisdictions a one-time opportunity to opt out by March 1 and, for those that opt in, an option to adopt a 1% sales tax to replace lost revenue. Jackson said county officials told district staff the state may revise its language about the five-acre limit but had not committed to a specific inflation index (for example, CPI) to be used in adjusting base values.

Local process and deadlines: Jackson described the opt-out process the district would follow if it pursues opting out: the district must publish notice in the newspaper, hold three public hearings, then the board must take a vote. Jackson said staff are coordinating with the tax assessor, the tax commissioner, and the Georgia Department of Revenue and Georgia Department of Education to get further technical detail.

Concerns raised: Committee members focused on fiscal uncertainty. Board member Miss Hall said on first hearing she \"doesn't see any positive reason for us to do this,\" citing that Chatham County already has the Stevens-Day exemption. Jackson and other speakers warned the bill could reduce local revenues and lower state QBE funds for some districts, which could affect local innovations and positions not fully funded by the state. The committee noted the short timeline (a March 1 opt-out deadline) and urged coordination with other local governments to present a common public message.

What the district will do next: Jackson said staff plan to meet with the tax assessor and other local governments; if the district pursues an opt-out, staff will post the required newspaper notice and schedule the three public hearings required by the statute before a final board vote.

Ending: The committee did not take a vote on HB 581 at the Jan. 15 meeting because there was not a quorum for formal action. Members asked staff to gather additional technical information (including the inflation index the state will use) and to return with recommendations and a proposed schedule for public hearings if the district moves forward with an opt-out process.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Finance Advisory Committee - January 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS) Finance Committee meeting on Jan. 15, 2025, district staff member Mister Jackson presented Georgia House Bill 581, a statewide \"floating\" homestead exemption signed April 18, 2024, and described the March 1 opt‑out deadline, an optional 1% sales tax to offset lost revenues, and steps the district would have to take to opt out.","taxTitle","Savannah-Chatham County, School Districts, Georgia","taxId",15361,"location","Georgia","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6375997,"SCCPSS projects modest enrollment shift for next year; district cites falling birthrate, school choice and staffing pressures",1585,1427000,3012000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2140671-fc4dec52d04462173871fcd934d2a74a&start=1427&end=3012","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2140671-fc4dec52d04462173871fcd934d2a74a/thumbnail_1427000.jpg","/articles/6375997/Georgia/SCCPSS-projects-modest-enrollment-shift-for-next-year-district-cites-falling-birthrate-school-choice-and-staffing-pressures","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6375997-2c696a144402657c72df682a277758d6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771167314&Signature=T9W6qN78ve~SuqsuDKdBkikIKacJTEbC93XqO2-jdrWE2kW6u0N1DP3sqrGTSZ7STl9MhI94mE3u94NTFZ91W6mGB-XV9CAVKwRkl2ZUh1DQnGrWGb3btOD6LIp7K6jRHoucaDlgvAfC~hpk2junIFpwxehZ6Cr6ngnuGjQnuR46sRFvsaia9kQKeTZXkNXzTpsr01vrh7b0SHYmZgjQLjeu92~vnBidJTXNhlqrnIEnIpWcRQH9Ite0Y7NRJIbTBq9CTwC8QIxi-n8fjlr5thqhRVWPI~BqWjVK7HNowJrA~kYj8GhktteY31JKVYgUOeo1tRP7FTBBwCLx6~v23Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","What happened: At the Jan. 15 SCCPSS Finance Committee meeting, Miss Cooley presented the district's enrollment projections and the methodology the budget office uses to forecast student counts for the coming school year.

Why it matters: Enrollment drives the district's state funding and staffing decisions. A reduction in students can translate to fewer allocated positions and lower revenue tied to full-time-equivalent (FTE) counts, influencing hiring, school staffing and class assignments.

Key numbers and trends: Cooley reported the district had 35,428 students in the current year (down from about 35,543 the prior year) and said the district is projecting an increase of 100 students for the next year to avoid triggering staffing reductions. She noted national and state declines in school-age population since 2019, linked to falling birth rates, and said the kindergarten cohort born in 2020 was about 3,510 children.

Drivers and uncertainty: Cooley cited several drivers: lower birthrates, growth in charter schools, private school enrollment trends and home-schooling. She specifically noted the new Georgia Promise scholarship program, which provides a $6,500 voucher for private school or homeschool expenses, and said the district does not yet know how broadly that program will affect SCCPSS enrollment. Cooley also said the district has not yet seen increases in enrollment tied to recent industrial development (for example, the Hyundai-related growth) but hopes to see future gains.

Method and staffing implications: Cooley described a multi-step forecasting process that uses historical data, census and birth data, principal input and cross-departmental review by budget, academic affairs, operations and technology. The district excludes pre-K and self-contained special education students from the regular enrollment totals used for FTE. Cooley told the committee the district is intentionally projecting a slight net increase (100 students) to avoid forcing schools to lose teachers midcycle, because the district has unfilled teacher vacancies and losing positions can require staff transfers.

Board discussion: Board member Brinkman praised the staffing-sensitive approach, saying, \"Let's do right by our teachers. Let's do right by our school administration.\" Members asked about charter schools' ability to offer different pay and private schools' recruitment of athletes; Cooley said some charter schools may pay more for specific positions and that private schools often recruit at middle and high school levels. The committee asked staff to provide further grade-level breakdowns of private-school enrollment and to monitor patterns ahead of the 10th-day FTE count.

Ending: Cooley concluded the presentation and staff will continue to monitor demographic indicators, the Georgia Promise program and local development, and they will return with updated projections as new data become available.","At the Jan. 15 Savannah-Chatham County Public School System Finance Committee meeting, district enrollment officer Miss Cooley presented the district's enrollment forecast, reporting a modest decline to 35,428 students this year and a planned projection of 100 additional students next year to limit staffing disruptions.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6375993,"SCCPSS rolls out 96-program inventory and ROI on‑ramp to guide FY26 budgeting",1139,3015000,4154000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2140671-fc4dec52d04462173871fcd934d2a74a&start=3015&end=4154","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2140671-fc4dec52d04462173871fcd934d2a74a/thumbnail_3015000.jpg","/articles/6375993/Georgia/SCCPSS-rolls-out-96-program-inventory-and-ROI-onramp-to-guide-FY26-budgeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6375993-18a16b269569b2f13b7e6fe74b261b0a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771167314&Signature=kdQxKZAW97EtcNeHYxabpRCfKXiVOswiXm4QiT5tep4Tpso1mwRMTjQIdBsUefWAXqnafCAVJe-w3F0HvngAzkjnDf13Rj5CLgbHFUf2hoj3yR1yjp4nq31M4opvmJ6Y82qyqD-sKGiLGzZlpOFM~ckQfXB0W8R6hKpkB5TDdnAeGD2T0oWhZhThHs7q8UwvSOaTmEKCcMV8rjmfl~kQKEAx~uLXA24iTIe-MgWagHDONioSfunzun7kLA2GHixX0-m-og~r8j4LbdGTXvuDbqB-LrGoHiSNX-TfIo~jTJNpbG0XO3o5MQ-RxZ0irBcRR3djOazLVwQeHJjyIU1y1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","What happened: At the Jan. 15 Finance Committee meeting, Miss Taylor presented an updated program inventory and the district's early return-on-investment (ROI) approach, which the administration intends to use in budget planning for fiscal year 2026.

Why it matters: The program inventory is intended to align district spending with strategic priorities and to give board members and the public a clearer picture of program costs, outcomes and whether investments should be continued, scaled back or ended.

Inventory scope and findings: Taylor said teams reviewed 96 programs and organized them by strategic priority and by general-fund investment level. Counts reported: 41 programs aligned to Strategic Priority 1 (students), 5 to Priority 2 (stakeholders), 13 to Priority 3 (employees), and 37 to Priority 4 (stewardship). Investment-level counts were 20 low, 20 moderate, 19 high and 37 highest. Using the district's decision matrix (factors included strategic alignment, educational impact, stakeholder engagement, employee support and fiscal responsibility), staff categorized 43 programs as \"caution\" and 5 as \"stop\"; the remainder are candidates to continue.

Method and next steps: Taylor described the effort as an \"on-ramp\" to more empirical ROI work. The inventory emphasized general-fund spending but staff said they plan to expand to grant-funded programs (Title I, special education and other federal or restricted funds) as the process matures. Next steps: select programs for targeted evaluations, finalize a program-evaluation guide, and use findings to inform FY26 budget decisions. Taylor said the district is building capacity for program evaluation and will ask program leaders to provide clearer metrics of intended outcomes and cost-effectiveness.

Board reaction and transparency: Board members praised the transparency and the prospect of using ROI data to inform contracting and recurring budget decisions. One board member called the inventory a \"microscope\" that will let the district show cost per student and program impact to taxpayers.

Ending: Taylor said the work will continue through the budget cycle and the district will bring program leaders and additional data to future finance meetings as programs are prioritized for deeper evaluation.","Miss Taylor presented the district's program inventory and a return-on-investment (ROI) on‑ramp at the Jan. 15 Finance Committee meeting. The inventory reviewed 96 programs, prioritized them by strategic goal and general‑fund investment level, and flagged 43 programs for caution and 5 for potential stoppage; staff said the work will feed FY26","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

SCCPSS finance committee reviews Georgia House Bill 581, weighing opt‑out and school funding impacts

SCCPSS projects modest enrollment shift for next year; district cites falling birthrate, school choice and staffing pressures

SCCPSS rolls out 96-program inventory and ROI on‑ramp to guide FY26 budgeting