School Board Approves Budget With No Tax Cut and More Local News

The Clarke County Board of Education approved a $214 million budget last month with a property tax rate of 18.8 mills—accepting Superintendent Robbie Hooker’s recommendation over the objections of some homeowners who argued the school district can afford to slash the tax rate. About a half-dozen speakers at public hearings June 28 and 29 called for CCSD to cut the tax rate by as much as 4 mills, pointing to property values that skyrocketed an average of almost 14% last year and the district’s $52 million in reserves. “It’s our money, and we want it back,” said John Elliott, a former chair of the local Republican Party chapter. The current GO…