JONESBORO, Ga. -- It seems like cash-strapped local governments are hiking property taxes all over Metro Atlanta.

Tuesday night Clayton County Commissioners were set to vote on a whopping 34 percent millage rate hike and Cobb County's on a 17 percent jump.

DeKalb County Commissioners recently passed a 26 percent increase.

Fulton County Commissioners held the line and Gwinnett County's are leaning against a higher rate.

All are telling their taxpayers they have cut government services about all they can and still provide basic services.

All are hurting for the same reason, a shrinking tax base.

Clayton County, for example, lost about $1 billion in property tax value over the past year thanks to shuttered businesses, layoffs, empty new store fronts, and home mortgage foreclosures.

ATLANTA -- This is the best time of year to buy both school supplies and office supplies.  Some things are as low as a penny, or even free after rebates!

I set out to find the best deals on a typical kindergarten or first grade supply list from Atlanta Public Schools.

I found the most convenient way to buy supplies is to order them through SchoolPak.com. The company will ship a box of required supplies to your home or school. The first grade list came to $55.34 including shipping.

I set out to see if I could find better deals in the stores. First our summer intern Katie and I went through the weekly sale flyers in search of the lowest possible prices for every item on our list.