Coweta County

school board officials gave approval Tuesday night to a $121 million general

fund budget.

This year's

general fund is up nearly $14 million over last year's, primarily because

of a new school opening on Willis Road.

The total budget

for the system this year is $209.6 million, which includes special revenue

funds, capital projects and debt service.

Residents will

soon see the debt service portion of the budget drop, after approving

a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax earlier this year.

Part of the

sales tax will go towards eliminating the debt and reducing the millage

rate.

School board

officials thanked finance director Keith Chapman for his fiscal prowess,

and said the system would be funding 3.25 percent raises this year for

both certified and classified employees.