Wednesday, June 8, 2004

School board close to deciding tax option By JOHN THOMPSON jthompson@TheCitizenNews.com By the beginning of July, voters could know if they will be voting on two Special Purpose Local Option Sales Taxes this fall. But after last week’s school board meeting, it’s looking more and more like the Fayette County Board of Education will call for a vote on a bond this fall. School system comptroller Jim Stephens told the board last week that he is still waiting for information before he could offer a recommendation to the board. “If we choose a 25-year bond, you’re looking at about $4.6 million a year to pay on it,” Stephens said. With the value of a mill at nearly $4 million, Stephens said the bond millage rate will rise in 2005 by slightly over a mill. A 20-year bond would require an even higher bond millage rate hike, but Stephens said he was also looking at another alternative. All the system’s bonds will be paid off in 2011, so the comptroller is looking at possibly issuing bonds and paying interest-only payments until 2011. “We’d like for you to decide at the next meeting which way to go,” said Superintendent John DeCotis. In May, the board finalized a list of $65 million in additions and upgrades for the system. Included on the list are: • Two new elementary schools. • One new middle school. • An upgraded media center at Brooks Elementary. • New energy management systems at East Fayette Elementary and Fayette Middle schools. • A new coat of paint and carpeting at several schools, including Huddleston Elementary and Peachtree City Elementary schools. • Classroom additions at Peeples Elementary and Rising Starr Middle schools.