Cobb school board formally approves fiscal year 2022 budget

Cobb school board approves budget — *East Cobb parent Heather Tolley-Bauer addresses the school board during a public budget forum.*

The Cobb Board of Education voted Thursday to adopt an operating budget for fiscal year 2022.

The Cobb school district’s 2022 budget of $1.2 billion includes an employee pay raise ranging between 4 and 8.6 percent.

The budget proposal holds the line on the school district’s property tax rate of 18.9 mills and using $51 million in reserve funding to reach a balance (budget summary here).

It was the second vote in as many weeks by the board on the budget, which held a special-called meeting Thursday after concerns that its action last week was improperly done.

The school board held a public budget forum before the vote on Thursday, following complaints that it had not abided by the state open meetings law last week.

Last Thursday’s budget forum was not live-streamed or recorded, due to what the district said were technical issues.

Because of COVID-19 safety protocols, members of the public were allowed into the board meeting room only one at a time if they were speaking during the public comment period, and were escorted out once they finished.

But the state opens meetings law states that when public meetings aren’t available for viewing, they must be fully open to the public.

Among those calling for a do-over were East Cobb parent Heather Tolley-Bauer, who’s a founder of a citizens group called “Watching the Funds—Cobb,” which scrutinizes Cobb school district finances.

Tolley-Bauer, who lives in Post 5 (represented by board member David Banks) was one of two people who spoke at Thursday’s public budget forum. While she didn’t specifically address the FY 2022 budget, she told board members that her group “will continue to provide a watchful eye” not only on the budget, but federal funding sources, SPLOST spending “and every single expense.

“Because no matter what, funds used to make purchases all come from the taxpayers, many of whom support our work.”

The group has more than 1,000 followers for its Facebook page, which is regularly updated with Cobb school district finances and school board activities.

It sprung to action last spring and was critical of the Cobb school district spending $12 million for handwashers and special UV disinfecting lights as COVID-19 safety measures. The district cancelled its contract for the lights in March after lights at Argyle Elementary School malfunctioned, and as the Cobb District Attorney’s Office began looking into the matter.

“As we move into the 2021-22 budget year, we continue to seek real and responsible fiscal stewardship that can only come from transparency and meaningful two-way communication with the stakeholders,” Tolley-Bauer told the school board Thursday.

Board members had little discussion about the budget during their special-called meeting before voting 5-0 to adopt it (board members Jaha Howard and Tre Hutchins were absent).

You can watch replays of both Thursday meetings by clicking here.

Unlike FY 2021, there’s no federal CARES Act funding in the new budget, which takes effect July 1. Also projected for FY 2022, which begins on July 1, is a 5.54 percent growth in the Cobb tax digest.

More Cobb school district budget and financial data can be found by clicking here.