OPINION: THE INK PENN
Do you prefer to read a standalone novel or a series? ► PAGE 20
Fe b r u a r y 9 , 2 0 2 3 | A p p e n M e d i a . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 2 , N o . 6
Georgia senate committee to focus on public school funding QBE formula continues to fall short after four decades By CANDY WAYLOCK candy@appenmedia.com
ALEX POPP/APPEN MEDIA
Councilmembers discuss possible changes to the Sandy Springs Development Code at the City Council’s 2023 planning retreat, held at City Hall Jan. 30.
Leaders ‘optimistic’ after annual retreat By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. —The Sandy Springs City Council and key staff met for more than eight hours Jan. 28 for the council’s annual planning retreat, drilling
down on priorities, goals and initiatives to be completed in 2023. In presentations and break-out sessions held at the City Springs Terrace Conference Room overlooking downtown Sandy Springs, officials heard from nearly every city department on topics ranging from the
city’s finances and road improvements to current MARTA initiatives and the state of the local cultural arts scene. At the end of the day, city leaders said that despite the massive amount of work
See RETREAT, Page 4
ATLANTA — The formula for funding public schools in Georgia dates back to 1985 when the Legislature passed Quality Based Education. It was considered landmark legislation at a time when schools were funded primarily by local taxes. QBE determines the cost to educate a full-time, public school student. It uses that figure to calculate how much a district “earns” each year in state funding. With nearly $11 billion of state revenue budgeted for public schools this year through QBE, getting the formula fully funded and fair is important. “It’s a plurality of the state budget,” said Stephen Owens, education director at the Georgia Policy and Budget Institute. “But it’s in the [Georgia] constitution as a primary obligation to provide an adequate public education free of charge.” In developing the “per pupil” cost each year, QBE considers a variety
See SCHOOLS, Page 10