Lenox proposes bond issue to PTC voters for new rec, leisure facilities

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

Peachtree City Mayor Bob Lenox wants to fund several new recreation and leisure facilities, expand the tennis center and restructure the debts owed by the city's airport and development authorities all at the same time.

The catch is, he'll have to sell voters on approving at least two separate bond issues so the city can secure a long-term loan to pay for the projects. Increasing the hotel-motel tax from 3 to 5 percent will provide enough money to make the estimated $640,000 annual payment such a loan would create, Lenox said.

"That way, instead of the citizens who live here now paying for it, the citizens who will live here in the future will pay for it," Lenox said, noting that the city has usually been able to make its public improvements by paying cash for projects in the past.

Of the estimated annual $940,000 the hotel-motel increase would create, $640,000 would fund the first two bond issues, Lenox said.

Lenox is also proposing a third bond issue for voters to decide upon, which would fund construction of a community center that would cost over $5 million. Such a leap, however, would require a millage rate increase from between .15 mills and .3 mills, he added.

The first bond issue, for $1.6 million, would relieve the Airport Authority's $1.4 million in debt and provide another $200,000 for airport improvements.

The second bond issue, for $5.05 million, is more expansive. It would retire the development authority's debt at $600,000 and fund the estimated $2.5 million needed to finish the tennis center expansion. It would also pay for an additional basketball court and gymnastics area at the Kedron recreation center ($1.2 million), final improvements to the amphitheater ($200,000) and the purchase and improvements to Drake Field ($650,000 total) which would connect it with Picnic Park via a bridge and also add a boardwalk area along the side of the lake.

The first two bond issues would cover what the city needs to "finish out the community" and continue the city's tradition of having top-notch facilities, Lenox said.

The proposed community center, which would be funded under the third bond, would be 44,000 square feet, including a 250-seat performing arts center, seniors area, teen area and multi-purpose space.

Lenox said that breaks down to a $2 per month tax increase for those who own a $200,000 home in Peachtree City. He urged homeowners to look at the community center as something that would enhance their property values.

"It's an investment for the future," Lenox said, adding that he felt the community center was "totally optional," compared to the projects in the other bond issues, which he considers necessary.

Lenox also wants the city to finance $2.34 million for a number of smaller-scale necessary public structures through the Georgia Municipal Association's Bricks and Mortar Program, including:

A fire station for the West Village ($800,000)

A fire training tower ($350,000)

A smoke/burn training building ($250,000)

Remodeling of city hall and the public works building ($250,000)

Upgrading Neely fire station ($175,000)

Adding a three-bay facility to the public works department ($100,000)

Adding storage buildings to the Kedron and Hwy. 74 South recreation complexes ($175,000)

Adding an auto shop to the public works facility ($100,000).

The hotel-motel tax will also benefit the airport authority and development authority by helping subsidize their operations for five years until they can operate their facilities on a self-sustaining basis, Lenox added.

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