Wednesday, August 30, 2000

By PAT NEWMAN
pnewman@TheCitizenNews.com

A decision to place a $63 million bond referendum on the Nov. 7 General Election ballot received hearty applause last week when it was voted upon by the Fayette County Board of Education.

Some former opponents of a special sales tax for school construction say they will support the school board’s construction plans, now that a bond is proposed instead.

Claude Pacquin, a Fayetteville tax specialist, said, “I think it’s a step in the right direction. Building schools through bonds is a better way by far.” The fact that bonds can be paid back over an extended length of time and can serve as an income tax deduction appealed to Pacquin. “This is a favorable development and I think the people will support it,” Pacquin added.

Carl Avrit, a Fayetteville resident, parent and airline pilot who formed a political action committee to oppose last’s year’s sales tax referendum, said he would not come out against the bond, but stopped short of saying he would vote for it, preferring taxpayers get a choice in education, as in a voucher system.

“I’m okay with it [bond],” said Peachtree City resident and businessman John Dufresne. He voted against the sales tax previously and added, “The board has got to be honest with the taxpayers,” giving them all the facts on the bond issue.

With two failed special purpose local option sales tax referendums in its recent history, the board opted to go the bond route and Monday selected A.G. Edwards and Sons Inc. as the bond underwriter. The final proposal, which outlines the specifics such as interest rates and payment schedules, will be presented to the board members Friday at 8 a.m. for their review and signatures.

The proposed $63 million bond will cover the construction of three elementary schools totalling $28 million; one new high school, approximately $29.8 million; land acquisition, $3 million; and a number of renovations and modifications at nine existing schools, about $8 million.

School Superintendent Dr. John DeCotis recommended a bond referendum as a means of funding the school construction package, noting, “You get the money up front, you don’t have to wait for the money to trickle in [like a sales tax], you know how much you have and you can provide the citizens with quicker relief.”

That relief is from increasing overcrowding in the system’s 23 schools. A board-appointed facilities committee presented the facts and figures relating to student populations in a recent board meeting, prioritizing temporary solutions. Even if the bond issue is passed, stopgap measures include using more portable classrooms as campus space allows, redistricting to make the best use of existing facilities, double-sessions and the worst case scenario, a year-round, or trimester system.

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