New Hephzibah charter school closely tied to city (Blythe: 2015, construction)

[Airforceguy]

While I don't personally have an issue with charter schools, I do have an issue with government money being used to fund their construction. It seems to me like Hephzibah is trying to start their own school district...

he Georgia School for In*no*vation and the Classics, set to open in Hephzibah in September with a statewide attendance zone, was approved by the Georgia Char*ter Schools Commission last year with a funding model never before seen in Georgia – or possibly the nation.
Most charter schools get start-up money from private donors, grants or, less frequently, through municipal bonds. But the $7 million construction costs for
GSIC came straight from the city of Hephzibah’s general fund.
The Hephzibah City Com*mis*sion voted in January to allocate all of the city’s
$7 million in reserve money to school construction, delaying plans for a gymnasium and other aesthetic additions when the reserves were exhausted.
Hephzibah Mayor Rob*ert Buchwitz is the school’s governing board chairman, and City Commissioner Jody Boulineau is the school superintendent, creating an
operational structure also rare in Georgia.
Buchwitz said the city’s financial commitment and role in operating the school is a sound investment that will spur economic growth by luring business and residential development to Heph*zibah with the area’s first charter school.
But with no precedent in the state for a charter school with start-up costs funded entirely by a city, some question whether the school too closely resembles independent or city school systems, which were banned by
the Georgia Constitution in 1945.

New Hephzibah charter school closely tied to city | The Augusta Chronicle

[Worren]

An independent study going on right now shows that living in a city like Hephzibah is far more expensive than living in the county. For what benefit? The county still supports their police force with deputies answering many calls. Probably too late but if Hephzibah were consolidated into Richmond county things would be much better for all.

[nortonguy]

I think Hephzibah and Blythe did the right thing and didn't consolidate. There's nothing wrong if they want to start their own school district. This school is a tremendous asset to Richmond County and the city of Hephzibah.

[PJA]

Originally Posted by Worren

An independent study going on right now shows that living in a city like Hephzibah is far more expensive than living in the county. For what benefit? The county still supports their police force with deputies answering many calls. Probably too late but if Hephzibah were consolidated into Richmond county things would be much better for all.

I could be wrong but I don't believe that the citizens of Hephzibah pay any additional city taxes. Seems like I remember reading that somewhere.

[Robert Buch]

It is much less expensive to live in the City limits of Hephzibah. There are no streetlight surcharges, no storm water fees, You don't have to pay to register your dog or cat.
There is no fire tax. Water rates are about a third of the cost of Augusta Richmond county.
The water quality is much better than Augusta's and we aren't drinking river water.