Wednesday, September 15, 1999
Reject SPLOST, use leftover funds for schools

I am proud that Bill Clinton did not get my vote when he ran for the office of the presidency twice. I will be equally proud to vote “NO” twice on the Board of Education incompetency to legitimize their existence with an alleged $90 million bond/sales tax option revenue package.

The board is recommending a $50 million bond issue and a $40 million debt obligation, and in private, the bond advisors recommend this approach to tax our county's 21 percent senior population since bond payments and sales tax are not exempt to this group. Note: Fayette County citizens pay the bond issue and the SPLOST tax and not citizens from other counties. Research can show Fayette citizens will pay over 98 percent of the SPLOST sale taxes. Our shopping centers are present for our economic dollars and related profits. You are here for your homes, family, life style, low crime, reasonable taxes, other amenities and quality education.

Since 1967, studies from governmental agencies and private industries have projected the county's population to exceed 100,000 and possibly reach 200,000 well before the year 2000. Since my residency in 1969, every time a new school opened, projections and studies were ignored, trailers became a way of life, construction delays became routine, costs exceeded budgets and facility deficiencies were hidden. So now $90 million is needed for education of which 54 percent or $48,600,000 will be spent on non-educational items like air conditioning, a gym, a $500,000 football practice field, a new auditorium, a $3 million stadium, etc.

Fayette County voters need to again vote down this $90 million misuse of educational funds, prevent another Bill Clinton, have new elections for responsible membership to the board of education and maintain high academic standards with a proper balance for sports activities. I bet two or three new schools could be built with $48,600,000 with funds left over for teachers' supplies for their academic production of our children. Again vote no, have new elections and build our school system right.

John M. Feenaghty
Peachtree City


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