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School officials lay groundwork for redistricting
By CHAMIAN CRUZ chamian@appenmedia.com
See ROSWELL, Page 5
Brew Moon Fest returns this fall ► PAGE 4
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Roswell cuts property tax rate for 2022 ROSWELL, Ga. — Following a rise in property values over the past year, the Roswell City Council voted unanimously Sept. 12 to adopt a rollback tax rate of 4.463 mills to ease the burden on local taxpayers. Elected officials voted on second reading to reduce the property tax rate for fiscal year 2023 by 5.4 percent from the previous year. It is the lowest the rate has been in 35 years. City Councilman Mike Palermo, who has been pushing for a rollback rate along with Councilwoman Christine Hall and former Councilman Marcelo Zapata, said that in the past, just because the millage rate has gone down, it doesn’t mean that residents wouldn’t see a tax increase. That’s because the millage rate was not rolled back enough to make up for increased tax assessments. “I do not feel elected officials should decide if our taxes go up, so that’s why I’m so glad this body decided that they would decide to not raise taxes,” Palermo said. “I really feel it should be voters that decide if our taxes go up.” In July, the Roswell City Council voted in favor of placing a bond referendum on the November ballot, which will
LOCATIONS IN ROSWELL & EAST COBB! OPEN SUNDAYS!
Community encouraged to weigh in on process By CANDY WAYLOCK candy@appenmedia.com
CHAMIAN CRUZ/APPEN MEDIA
Community lessons
Joel Floyd started English for a Lifetime Language Institute with $500 and two students. The school’s second location just opened in Roswell, and Floyd’s goal remains the same – to address the language barrier that exists between immigrant adults and families who struggle with learning English. See BUSINESS, Page 8
Historical society will host shindig ► PAGE 7
MARTA on-demand program fades out ► PAGE 15
ATLANTA — The redistricting process impacting the entire North Fulton region is underway with Fulton County School officials advising parents to be involved and aware of changes to their student’s assigned schools next August. “This is a community process,” said Yngrid Huff, executive director of operational planning for Fulton County Schools. “Rest assured this process is transparent and there is access to all the information and data that we have available.” She noted the district has opened 40 new schools over the past 22 years, with the majority in North Fulton, to address the capacity needs of the growing district. That trend is now reversing as enrollment declines, leaving some schools still crowded
See SCHOOLS, Page 29