Re: SB458: Senator Chance, I hope that things turned out well for the citizens of Fayette County last week concerning SB 458? That this tax increase bill did not make it out of the House Rules Committee?

The favor of a reply to my letter would be appreciated.

Concerning your sponsored and passed legislation entitled the Special Needs Scholarship Act, I would like to point out that there are 52,800 students in the Clayton County school system.

If just 5 percent of the students are considered “special needs” as defined under the act, there will be 2,640 Clayton students eligible if that school system is not accredited by next year.

If only 10 percent of these special needs students decide to come to Fayette County, then the citizens of this county will have their taxes increased by a minimum of $1,188,000.

This figure depends of course on your answer to my question concerning the actual cost of these students. State funds (Georgia taxpayer funds) will not cover the cost of out of county students, and I assume special needs students would cost more than the average student.

I repeat my request for a bill to protect the citizens of Fayette County and other Georgia counties through a referendum on tax increases brought about by your legislation and legislation like it.

After all, what school board could turn away a special needs child? We should not leave the decision on tax increases to the school board; this is not their function.

We should leave it to the people. If they want to admit out of county special needs children into our school system at our expense, then it is acceptable to me.

I believe strongly that the citizens of our county have the right to decide the question of tax increases and not some well-intended but flawed law. I also believe that they are willing and able to protect their rights to due process and property.

James Wingo

Peachtree City, Ga.

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