Coweta County

property taxpayers will see a jump in their bills next this fall after

the Board of Education gave final approval to a $150 million budget Tuesday

night.

The budget

is approximately 8 percent bigger than last year's budget and features

an additional $4.1 million in spending to lower the student-pupil ration

in third grade and provide funds for extra classrooms at White Oak Elementary

and Poplar Road Elementary schools.

Currently,

the system's tax rate stands at 17.83 mills for maintenance and operation,

but passing this budget requires the board to raise the rate to the maximum

20 mills.

The increase

would cost the owner of a $100,000 home an additional $81 and change.

School officials

have warned that, since voters turned down an extension of the special

purpose local option sales tax in March, a tax increase would probably

be needed to continue funding for the rapidly growing school system.

But board member

Smith Pass said taxpayers could see the millage rate lowered next year

if voters give approval to another SPLOST referendum next March.

Superintendent

of Education Richard Brooks agreed with Pass's assessment and pointed

out that SPLOST funds cannot be used to pay for teachers' salaries. They

can be used only to fund capital projects.