Could APS shut down? (Atlanta: assessors, new home, schools)

[bu2]

Lack of money could temporarily close Atlanta schools - CBS46 News

Tax problems are leading to furloughs in APS and possibly Fulton. Leaders are already evaluating whether they might need to shut down temporarily in December.

[Iconographer]

"The districts aren't currently receiving property tax dollars because the state rejected Fulton County's tax digest. That's about 62 percent of each of the districts' budgets."


I guess my question is why?

[PeteATL41]

What an embarrassing situation...let's take out political differences on children ... who will be the future employees of all the business we are devoting so many resources to attract...

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by Iconographer

"The districts aren't currently receiving property tax dollars because the state rejected Fulton County's tax digest. That's about 62 percent of each of the districts' budgets."


I guess my question is why?

The basic line of events are this:

1. Fulton County fails to properly update valuations on properties for ~5 years
2. In that time, average metro housing prices increase 55.5%, with some local spikes as high as 200%
3. Fulton County corrects the assessments for 2017 all at once
4. APS and FCS plan their budgets based on expected revenue from corrected evaluations
5. People are upset that their property taxes are suddenly spiking up
6. Fulton County gives in to the pressure, and resets the assessments back to 2016 levels
7. APS and FCS suddenly have massive revenue shortfalls
8. The state says the whole thing is messed up, and steps in to stall both collections and the reversion to 2016 values
9. APS and FCS still have massive shortfalls, but now everything is frozen at the county level by the state

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by fourthwarden

The basic line of events are this:

1. Fulton County fails to properly update valuations on properties for ~5 years
2. In that time, average metro housing prices increase 55.5%, with some local spikes as high as 200%
3. Fulton County corrects the assessments for 2017 all at once
4. APS and FCS plan their budgets based on expected revenue from corrected evaluations
5. People are upset that their property taxes are suddenly spiking up
6. Fulton County gives in to the pressure, and resets the assessments back to 2016 levels
7. APS and FCS suddenly have massive revenue shortfalls
8. The state says the whole thing is messed up, and steps in to stall both collections and the reversion to 2016 values
9. APS and FCS still have massive shortfalls, but now everything is frozen at the county level by the state

Everyone in the Fulton County assessors office should be fired.

[red92s]

Originally Posted by fourthwarden

The basic line of events are this:

1. Fulton County fails to properly update valuations on properties for ~5 years
2. In that time, average metro housing prices increase 55.5%, with some local spikes as high as 200%
3. Fulton County corrects the assessments for 2017 all at once
4. APS and FCS plan their budgets based on expected revenue from corrected evaluations
5. People are upset that their property taxes are suddenly spiking up
6. Fulton County gives in to the pressure, and resets the assessments back to 2016 levels
7. APS and FCS suddenly have massive revenue shortfalls
8. The state says the whole thing is messed up, and steps in to stall both collections and the reversion to 2016 values
9. APS and FCS still have massive shortfalls, but now everything is frozen at the county level by the state

You got the basics but missed a very topical detail that should slot somewhere between 5 and 6:

6A. Fulton County Commission Chair, John Eaves, pressures Fulton County assessors office into rolling back assessments in the middle of a campaign to be Atlanta's next mayor. Eaves then uses the roll-back as a frequent talking point throughout the campaign, touting it as a "win" for his constituents and boasting about lowering taxes.

[LTCM]

Those meddling state bureaucrats need to keep their dirty fingers out of the business of straightlaced Fulton county.

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by LTCM

Those meddling state bureaucrats need to keep their dirty fingers out of the business of straightlaced Fulton county.

No one except morons is defending Fulton County here.

[NC2ATL60]

I hope this doesn't hurt our chances with Amazon HQ2!

[red92s]

Originally Posted by NC2ATL60

I hope this doesn't hurt our chances with Amazon HQ2!

I don't think Amazon is expecting to pay much in taxes for the first decade or so in their new home.