Wednesday, March 7, 2001
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Wednesday, March 7, 2001 |
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Cox irked by part of education bill By MONROE
ROARK
State Rep. Kathy Cox yesterday introduced an amendment to Gov. Roy Barnes' education legislation that addressed what for her is a major sticking point regarding the distribution of education funds. A portion of House Bill 656, according to Cox, unfairly penalizes counties without a special purpose local option sales tax for schools when determining the amount of funds received for capital projects. The definition of "sales tax wealth" in the proposed bill refers to potential sales tax revenue rather than actual revenue, she said. "It's going to hold districts accountable for what they could raise with SPLOST even if they don't have one," Cox added. "I don't see how it's fair to count sales tax revenue if the voters won't let them have that." Her ire at this measure if motivated largely by Fayette County's potential to be hit hard since a sales tax for schools has been soundly defeated at the polls in recent years, forcing the school system to go with a bond referendum, which passed. Some state leaders will say that's too bad Fayette should have passed a sales tax. But Cox argues that a sales tax can hurt the elderly and poorer residents of the county. "It's a regressive tax," she said. Another thing that upset her about this issue was that it was "glossed over" and not discussed in committee. "I feel like I was blindsided," she said. Cox planned to offer an amendment on the House floor yesterday afternoon that adjusted the definition of sales tax wealth to equal what is actually brought in. That would make Fayette County's factor zero, she said. "I don't expect [her amendment] to pass," she added. "But a point will be made." Cox's child endangerment bill is scheduled to hit the floor today, the 33rd day of the 40-day legislative session.
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