Fulton County property tax adjustment hits Atlanta Schools hard

The school year has yet to start, but in Atlanta, there is already severe belt tightening.

The staff, including teachers, will be on furlough. For two days employees will stay at home without pay. The savings just from those two days will be almost $3 million.

The rocky financial start is the result of estimates on taxes that cannot be realized. The planned budget sprung a leak when Fulton County politicians, under pressure from property owners, blocked new property valuations that would have brought in $24 million in new revenue.

In addition to furloughs, administrators are looking at freezing numerous positions from paraprofessionals to custodians.

Board Chair Courtney English said everyone will share in the pain, including the superintendent.

Two furlough days will cost the superintendent $3,000 in salary.