On June 14,

the Fulton County Board of Education gave final approval to the fiscal

year 2001-2002 budget.

With the vote,

the board also approved a millage rollback of 1.13 mills in order to offset

increased property reassessments.

This is the

second consecutive year of full millage rollbacks and the fourth reduction

in ten years. As a result of the cuts, the tax paid on a $100,000 home

has decreased from $959 in 1990 to approximately $724 in 2001-2002.

The Fulton

County Board of Education and school system staff made the tough decisions

necessary to balance the FY2002 budget and roll back the millage.

Due to tax

reassessments, the school system could have gained an additional $21 million

from the current millage rate.

However, the

school board continued its tradition of financial accountability and asked

staff to present a revenue-neutral budget and make the necessary cuts

to accommodate this decision.

Despite increased

revenues of approximately $20 million, the system had to significantly

cut the budget to accommodate increased expenditures, including

- $16

million to handle student enrollment growth;

- $25.5

million to give a pay raise to all employees;

- $2.4

million for inflation;

- $2.7

million for two new charter schools.

With our challenges,

we were pleased that we still were able to include some improvement items.

We increased funding for our ESOL and at-risk programs by $1.5 million,

provided for additional psychologists, and expanded peer diversity and

cultural awareness programs.

To help with

recruiting and retention efforts, the amount of credit given for outside

teaching experience increased and improvements will be made in the teacher

induction and alternative certification programs. In an effort to involve

more students in extracurricular activities, coaching stipends were approved

for lacrosse, along with funds for high school intramurals and middle

school extramurals.

To offset these

increased expenditures, the board reduced or cut funding for some items,

and delayed major purchases. For example:

- Summer

school class size increases and support staff decreases.

- Classroom

sets of textbooks for some subjects will be used rather than issuing

textbooks to individual students in 2001-02.

- Early

purchase of science, health and physical education, and drug-free schools

textbooks and instructional materials needed for 2002-03 will be delayed.

- Funding

is reduced for security cameras and facility maintenance, including minor

remodeling, paving, erosion control projects, walkway installation, tree

services, stadium light repairs, playscape improvements and fencing.

- Software

updates and purchase of new computer software licenses are delayed.

To present

a revenue-neutral budget, the school board also chose to delay major purchases

of new technology, buses, textbooks and equipment that could be included

in a special local option sales tax referendum.

If a one-cent

tax option is called for and approved by voters, these capital improvements

can be removed from the operating budget for five years.

While this

year's budget process is over, we must begin now to think ahead to 2002-2003.

Our challenges will continue. Annual growth in enrollment and class-size

reductions under the A+ Education Reform Act are expected to increase

school budgets by as much as $68 million in FY2003 and $95 million in

FY2004.

The system's

Local Fair Share the amount of money paid to other school systems increased

$11 million this year and is expected to increase an additional $13 million

in FY2003, while tax revenue growth for the school system is expected

to be approximately $19 million.

I would like

to thank all citizens and staff who took the time to be involved in the

budget process this year by attending the numerous workshops and public

hearings.

Be assured

that the board and administration did listen to and use your input in

making final decisions. I ask that you continue to work with us as we

begin to plan for next year's budget. The FY 2003 budget development calendar

will be posted on the system Web site in late fall.

For information

on budget process, please call the Community Relations Department at 404-763-6830,

or visit the Web site at www.fulton.k12.ga.us .

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