Augusta school officials oppose tax reform plan

School officials in Augusta are going on record against a controversial tax reform plan.

The Richmond County school board has voted to formally oppose the tax plan for education proposed by Georgia House Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram).

They will take their opposition before legislators at a breakfast on Thursday.

The plan would eliminate a portion of property taxes, replacing education dollars with expanded sales taxes.

But school officials in Augusta fear they would lose control of local education funds.

"Now, we're working under a system where the local authorities have the ability to cut taxes or raise taxes to support a system that the public will support," said Jack Padgett, a Richmond County school board member. "I'm just not sure that anytime you send money away that you would get it all back."

Richardson eventually wants to eliminate all property taxes.

"Property taxes are rising faster than people's ability to pay them, and it is time that local governments stop balancing their checkbooks on the backs of homeowners," said Clelia Davis, a spokeswoman for Richardson. "All we are asking is for the citizens of Georgia to have the right to vote and decide whether they want to eliminate property taxes and change the system. That is the ultimate form of local control."

The Georgia School Boards Association, meanwhile, says only a few school systems so far have asked them for assistance in drafting resolutions opposing the plan. Richardson has dubbed the plan GREAT, which stands for Georgians for the Repeal of Every Ad Valorem Tax.