My property taxes soared by 300% in a single year, an increase attributable exclusively to the Atlanta Public Schools (APS) portion of my taxes. This is due to the fact that all other elements of my taxation already have a Consumer Price Index (CPI) cap. Fulton country schools, subjected to a tax cap for years, have managed to operate effectively within their fiscal constraints. The very notion that APS should be exempt from this fair financial regulation seems untenable in light of these lived experiences.

What's even more distressing is the fact that voters resoundingly pushed for HB 581, a bill aiming to enforce a cap on the APS taxation, but APS opted to disregard the democratic voice of the people. We need our legislators to champion our cause, to listen to our pleas for consistency and certainty in taxes. It is in their power to pass local legislation that enforces a cap on the APS taxation in honour of the democratic choice of the people.

Property taxes are a significant source of funding for local schools, and while we all appreciate the need for quality education, unchecked increases in property taxes without any form of mitigation can place undue financial strain on homeowners.

This petition, thus, aims to call on our local lawmakers to enforce a cap on the APS portion of property taxes, establishing a consistence and predictability within our taxation systems. As constituents and stakeholders, we urge our legislators to listen to our calls for fairness, economic stability and democratic representation. Please sign this petition to advocate for this cause.