Sunday Edition July 21, 2019 BARTOW COUNTY’S ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER $1.50 Bartow millage rate to remain unchanged BY JAMES SWIFT increase in property taxes by 5.91% with a brief press release, which gave a [proportionally.]” [email protected] for unincorporated Bartow County little more context to the situation. All that to say, essentially, that the and 7.40% for incorporated Bartow “State law requires this to be adver- County property tax rate is remain- When is a property tax increase not County.” tised as a tax increase since the State ing the same as it was last year. That a tax increase? But as Olson explained, what that measures change not against the ac- means a home with a fair market value According to Bartow County Ad- technically means is that the Coun- tual prior-year millage rate, but rather (FMV) of $175,000 in incorporated ministrator Peter Olson, whenever the ty’s overall tax digest increased, thus against the ‘rollback rate,’” that release Bartow without a homestead exemp- State says it is. resulting in an uptick in the County’s reads. “The rollback rate is calculated tion, for example, would have a millage “We get frustrated with the lan- overall tax revenue. by subtracting any increase in the di- rate of 10.30 mills, which would come guage,” he said. “The State makes us “So they make us call that ‘a tax in- gest due to reassessment.” out to about $49.70. For a non-home- advertise a ‘tax increase,’ but we’re crease,’” he said. “I always fi nd it inter- Or as Olson put it, if a resident’s stead property with the same FMV in keeping the millage rate the same as esting that the Governor’s Offi ce likes house or property assessment hasn’t unincorporated Bartow the millage we have for the past several years — so to tout when income tax is up, but they changed over the last year, that means rate remains 9.01 mills, which comes we’re not increasing the millage rate, don’t call it ‘a tax increase,’ they just their County taxes aren’t going to out to about $35. in other words, the tax rate.” say ‘hey, revenue’s up.’” change, either. “We still feel like we have a low rate JAMES SWIFT/THE DAILY TRIBUNE NEWS Confusion abounded last week Unsurprisingly, the ensuing social “If your assessment went down, your compared to other counties in the state Public hearings are scheduled for July 24 at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. concerning a Bartow County property when the Bartow County government media scuttlebutt was incensed — if County taxes go down — that happens and our neighbors,” Olson said. “But tax “increase” at the Frank Moore Administration released a public notice stating the not outright apoplectic. The County to a few thousand properties a year,” he and Judicial Center at 135 West Cherokee Ave. 2019 millage rate would “require an government followed the public notice said. “But if it goes up, then it will go up SEE MILLAGE, PAGE 2A Judge fi nds no ‘probable cause’ Bartow students head for search warrant in case back to class Aug. 7 involving ex- BY DONNA HARRIS schools and 8:30 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. for [email protected] middle and high schools. BCSO sergeant “In order to support professional It may feel like summer just started, learning communities and give teach- BY JAMES SWIFT but the fi rst day of the 2019-20 school ers ample time to collaborate vertically [email protected] year is just 2½ weeks away for Bartow or horizontally in the morning, a slight County School System students. schedule adjustment was necessary,” On Jan. 8, Clayton Grant Pat- The school district’s 13,400 students Page said. “All educators will now have terson, of Rydal, was involved will return to class at the 12 elementary the time to collaborate two days a week in an accident so severe it led schools, four middle schools, three high for 45 minutes, hold offi ce hours two to a passenger being airlifted schools and college and career acade- days a week and supervise children who to Grady Memorial Hospital my Aug. 7 to fi nd a rebranded middle arrive early one day a week. Individual in Atlanta. Patterson — a Bar- school, new starting and ending times, planning time remains protected. This tow County Sheriff’s Office new principals at four schools, numer- starts Phase 2 of our three-year plan to employee for roughly a decade ous facility improvements and several implement professional learning com- and the former chief of police new programs. munities. I’m confi dent it will provide for the City of Kingston — was “I am anticipating another exciting a focus on learning this year through arrested and charged with driv- year fi lled with new educational op- mastery of essential standards and com- ing under the influence of mul- portunities and experiences for our mon formative assessments and create tiple substances shortly there- teachers, students and families,” said an environment that will maximize our after. Superintendent Dr. Phillip Page, who is impact on student achievement.” But if Patterson’s case goes beginning his second year in the posi- The superintendent said the Read to to trial, the results of a mo- tion. Grow program will be expanding to ev- tion hearing in Bartow Supe- Among the changes for the school ery fi rst-grade classroom in the system rior Court earlier this week system’s families will be a new sched- “so students will see more volunteers would prevent prosecutors RANDY PARKER/THE DAILY TRIBUNE NEWS, FILE ule beginning the fi rst day of class. this year.” from informing jurors about The Adairsville Elementary School tiger greets Jazzy Watkins on her fi rst School hours each day will now be blood tests taken from the de- day of school last year. Bartow students will be returning to class Aug. 7. 8:05 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for elementary SEE BCSS, PAGE 5A fendant — including one that came back positive for alpra- zolam. Lance McCoy, who serves as Patterson’s attorney, argued School bells ring again Aug. 7 that probable cause was not laid out in an affidavit he expected the State to tender as evidence, for Cartersville students adding information provid- ed by a Georgia State Patrol BY DONNA HARRIS plementing some ideas and processes based upon RANDY PARKER/DTN (GSP) trooper to the Bartow [email protected] my observations from this past year,” he said. “Our Cartersville County Magistrate Court “was system takes pride in making the learning experience High School not sufficient” to make a deci- The fi rst day of school on Aug. 7 will launch a new personal for our students and families. This will con- students wait sion “that controlled substanc- year fi lled with some exciting changes for the 4,500 tinue to be a major focus. We are fully committed to in front of the es, drugs and/or other alcohol students in the Cartersville City School System. providing our students with educational experiences school for their would be contained in Mr. Pat- Superintendent Dr. Marc Feuerbach said he’s that foster their passions and help them grow aca- ride home after terson’s blood.” “anticipating a very exciting year” for the students demically, socially and emotionally.” the fi rst day of McCoy also argued that he and staff members of the district’s four schools. The superintendent said the system has “several class last year. believed the Bartow Coun- “I truly enjoyed my fi rst year as superintendent new things taking place at our schools” during the The new school year begins ty Magistrate Court could and am so excited about starting my second year 2019-20 school year that excite him. Aug. 7. not authorize the transport to as superintendent,” he said. “Cartersville Primary School will be introduc- or searching of blood at the Now that Feuerbach has a year in his new po- ing monthly STEM activities this year and will be Georgia Bureau of Investi- sition under his belt, he’s ready to make some hosting a multicultural Math Night with the Chat- gation Crime Lab in DeKalb changes that he thinks will continue making the tanooga Discovery Museum,” he said. “New trees County. system stronger. were recently planted near their big playground, “I spent an abundance of time listening and ob- SEE HEARING, PAGE 7A serving last year, and I am looking forward to im- SEE CCSS, PAGE 5A Senior High Camp’s ‘Matilda the Musical’ opens Friday at The Grand BY MARIE NESMITH said. “It’s always inspiring to “With the help of her friends This musical reinvention of [email protected] me to see how everyone rallies and her beloved teacher, she the classic story provides a together to overcome the obsta- discovers who she really is feast for the eyes and ears, and An integral member of the cles, and how our campers lift and that she has the power our campers have gone above Summer Music Theatre Camps each other up so that everyone to take on anyone who treats and beyond to put their story for the past two decades, Erin can succeed. others poorly, regardless of together.” Gunter is delighted to direct Calling the production a how much bigger than her Following its opening per- this year’s final production. “feast for the eyes and ears,” they are.