In Chatham County, NC, a San Digeo company, Newland Communities, has proposed building a 2400 home development.  Chatham is a mostly rural county and Newland's new development will essentially become the county's largest town.  

There's plenty of grounds on which to oppose this development: placed away from existing "urban" centers, spraying treated sewage (the most grevious, in my opinion), traffic concerns, etc.  However, I think that the only argument our County Commissioners might heed is a fiscal argument.

To that end, I've been churning numbers, trying to prove that the development will cost the county money.  I believe that I've done that and can make a convincing argument.  But, my argument hinges on the number of students generated by each home in the new development.  

So, my questions for you knowledgeable Kossaks are these:

• What are some general guidelines for calculating student generation rates (SGRs)?  I'd be especially interested in statutory law links or  some expert explanations that I could quote.
  
• When predicting future property tax revenues from this development, should I use the full market value tax rate?  Or should I use the effective tax rate, which tends to decline between property reassessments?
  
• Have any of you ever worked for or against Newland Communities?  What kind of company are they?
  

Just asking.  Thanks.  (More info on my blog, if you're interested.  The development in question is called Briar Chapel.  Ignore the references to Booth Mountain; that development is not related to this diary's questions.)