Lawsuit over state education funds moves forward

A long-standing legal battle pitting 50 mostly rural schools against the state over education funding is moving forward. A judge denied the state's final attempt to dismiss the case, and it's scheduled to go to trial October 21st.

The lawsuit claims small, poor counties are treated unfairly because they don't raise enough local taxes to compensate for the cuts in state education funds.

If the schools win that could mean the state pays more than a billion dollars in education funds.

The state is reviewing the judge's order.

Education funding suit to be heard today

A long standing lawsuit over education funding in 50 mainly small rural school districts goes to Fulton County Superior Court today. The suit, first filed in 2004, claims the small counties are treated unfairly because they don’t raise enough money from local taxes to make-up for cuts in state education spending. Unless granted a dismissal, the case goes to trial in October. A loss could put the state on the hook for more than one-billion dollars it would have to send to education coffers.