Last Friday's workshop meeting of the Coweta County Board of Education left many of the board members shaking their heads over a new proposal to fund schools in the state.

House Resolution 58, which is set to be debated in the General Assembly next year, would eliminate property tax as a local funding mechanism for school boards. Instead, a three percent sales tax would be levied on every resident to pay for schools.

Some estimates have the county losing as much as $50 million under the proposal.

"Some state leaders think we don't understand the proposal, but I think we do," said Board Chairman Mitch Powell.

Don Rooks, who serves as a liaison to the General Assembly for the Georgia School Board Association, said some politicians believe that property tax is unfair.

Rooks explained that if the measure was passed by the General Assembly, it would head to the voters in 2006 as a constitutional amendment. If the voters passed the amendment, property taxes would not be levied after 2008.

"You'd have to shut down the arts center and Central Education Center because you couldn't levy a nickel for extra programs," Rooks said.

He said the proposal would equalize all funding in the state for students. Each county would get $6,762 for each student. Any local funding for extra programs would be eliminated. he added.

Another problem with the proposal is that proponents have not fully outlined their plans.

"We don't know if there would be any exemptions, such as food," added Rooks.

The board members agreed it was a bad proposal.

"Now, we're making tough choices. We wouldn't have a choice with this plan," said member Smith Pass.