Fayette County schools are

regarded as the state's best and keep getting better, members of

the Board of Education and community were told Saturday.

But the cost to build and sustain

a school district held up as the model for the rest of Georgia is high,

especially with the state's share of education funding continuing

to fall and local property taxes near their legal limit. Another five-year

facilities expansion plan that would require voter approval is also knocking

on the door.

While there was much to celebrate

at the board's annual planning workshop Saturday, the reality of

how much it costs to achieve such heights wasn't lost on anyone,

most especially Finance Director James Stephens.

"I ask you for your support

and patience," Stephens said to the board when it came his turn to

speak.

"It's not going to

be an easy year."

Stephens got word Friday that

the state estimates it will cost Fayette $2.1 million to fund Gov. Sonny

Perdue's proposed 2-percent pay raise for all teachers. But the actual

cost to the county will be nearly twice that, at $3.8 million, if Perdue's

raise passes, because Fayette has many more teachers and certified personnel

than the state provides funding for.

Since 2002, the state has slashed

$5.5 million from its share of instructional revenue to Fayette County,

Stephens said. Over seven years, the district has been shortchanged more

than $12 million.

Figuring in austerity adjustments,

reductions in capital growth spending and various cuts in services, Stephens

said Fayette receives $17 million less from the state than it did just

five years ago, or about 10 percent of the 2004 budget.

Reaching consensus last year

on that $148 million operations budget , about $7 million more than in

2003, was a piece of cake compared to what lies ahead, Stephens suggested.

"We will need to look

at everything we do, from top to bottom, systemwide, from materials to

bus transportation to our facilities," said Stephens.

He stopped short of using the

"L" word: Layoffs.

"So far we've managed

to make it through without any reductions in staff," he reminded

superintendents, division directors and program coordinators gathered

for the session.

"We hope to maintain that,

but the truth is, we just don't know."

Board members took the grim

news with a degree of optimism.

Board member Lee Wright asked

if it were too early to ask school system personnel for ideas on ways

to cut costs; Stephens said budgets from department heads were due in

to his office on Feb. 18, and principals had a deadline of Feb. 25.

Board member Greg Powers did

some math and asked Stephens if the budget anticipated for 2005, coupled

with pay raises and further cuts from the state, wouldn't equal about

a 1-mill tax increase, or about $3.2 million in Fayette County.

"Yes, it would,"

said Stephens, adding, "That's why I'm advising you to

take caution in how you approach a bond this fall."

Because of time constraints,

the board only briefly touched on the next five-year construction plan

still in its draft stage, but heard Facilities Services Director Mike

Satterfield propose a new middle school and three elementary schools,

as well as a 12-classrooom addition to Rising Starr Middle and a host

of renovations and improvements to several other campuses.

The cost of the projects and

value of the bond voters would be asked to approve in November was not

discussed, but the request would probably fall within range of the $65

million sought in 2000. Whitewater High School, which opens in August,

is the final project approved by voters with that bond.

Still, Stephens conceded that

things could be a lot worse. Fayette County ranks among the wealthiest

of Georgia's counties, and just a fraction of an increase in the

millage can bring in more than $1 million in revenue. Last year's

tax digest jumped by 8 percent, a welcome surprise, and Tax Commissioner

George Wingo has told Stephens that a 5 percent growth rate can be expected.

Compare that to the city of

Pelham, south of Albany, where a single mill of taxation brings in just

$32,500, according to the state.

Meeting in a similar retreat

on Friday, Coweta's Board of Education was told it would have to

slash its budget by nearly $10 million, and agreed to increase classroom

sizes; shut down the night high school; replace each high school teacher's

planning period with another 45-minute class; delay buying new textbooks;

and postpone the hiring of a new top administrator.

Stephens said the first budget

workshop would come at the March board meeting.

"A tight system is better

than a loose system," said Stephens. "We take our role very

seriously."

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