* SPLOST to go on Nov. ballot after board disagreement

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Fayette | News

SPLOST to go on Nov. ballot after board disagreement

Mon, 08/04/2008 - 9:05pm

By: Ben Nelms

Things got a bit testy Monday night as Fayette County School Board members discussed putting a one-percent Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) on the November ballot. The subsequent vote in favor of the initiative was no surprise.

But what some might not have expected was the difference of opinion that led to an exchange between board members Janet Smola and Bob Todd.

Much publicized in recent weeks, the usual SPLOST presentation by Comptroller Laura Brock and an explanation of the resolution by Superintendent John DeCotis that would put the initiative on the ballot was followed a board discussion in which Todd said he would be abstaining when the vote was taken.

The 3-0-1 vote came minutes later, with Terri Smith, Janet Smola and Lee Wright in favor of the ballot initiative and Bob Todd abstaining.

Prior to the vote, one of the differences of opinion between Todd and Smola centered on the amount of time that the SPLOST had been considered. Smola had referenced a two-year period that the potential for a SPLOST initiative had been discussed.

“But when did it reach the board level?” Todd asked, indicating a more recent time frame. “There’s a difference between a conversation and a board action.”

where oh where are the missing 2 year talks on SPLOST?

Submitted by suggarfoot on Tue, 08/05/2008 - 5:58pm.

" Smola had referenced a two-year period that the [potential] for a SPLOST initiative had been discussed."

wesbsters= possible, as opposed to actual, capable of being or becoming, ability that may or may not be developed.
—Synonyms 2. See latent

Why doesn't Ms Smola just "quote" where this was discussed? That would be very simple. There should be minutes shouldn't there? Could it be that is wasn't...? Just like the deffintion... 'possible', 'capable of being', or abiltiy to may or may not be developed was'thought' about? But not disscussed?

I would always put my money on the two, tried and true, Key, and Todd!

Thank You Suggarfoot

Submitted by Git Real on Tue, 08/05/2008 - 8:16pm.

Where oh where are the missing 2 year talks on SPLOST?

That's what I'd like to know. I do have to admit that I was blind sided on this one. Am I the only one?

I would always put my money on the two, tried and true, Key, and Todd!

With Todd's shameless abstention and Key's inexcusable absence, for the life of me I cannot understand how you can claim that? Puzzled

I salute Ms. Key's son and his service to our country and I am joyous of his safe return. But Marion Key had a service to perform and she shirked her duty in a magnified manner and betrayed 'We The People' in a very big way.

SPOST vote

Submitted by suggarfoot on Tue, 08/05/2008 - 11:55pm.

How many times does your kid come home from war? I understand her being with him. Also, Ms Key may have been as horrified at the out come of the elections as the rest of us. Think of all the times she has been out voted by the three snarling amigos. I'm sure she was holding on for us to vote her some help. We let her down.

As for Dr Todd, he was saying he felt alternatives should have been talked about before resorting to raising taxes. His point, alternatives were never discussed, that is when Smola came out with the deal that it had been talked about for 2 years. Funny, no one else heard it.

Face it guys, at times, Ms Key and Dr Todd must feel like the defenders of the Alamo. It must be horrible to know you are standing up for what is right, but so badly out numbered, you are going to be shot down at sunrise for your convictions. We need to do our part and go to the meetings and support them.

Cutting things starting where?

Submitted by Bryan47 on Tue, 08/05/2008 - 12:31pm.

Did anyone other than me happen to notice that the cuts the FCBOE have threatened us all with start well below the FCBOE level? Just so everyone knows there are 11 Director Positions, one Associate Director, eight Coordinator positions, two Assistant Superintendents, one Purchasing Agent, one Comptroller, one Superintendent, one Deputy Superintendent, and one Public Information Specialist. Not one of these positions I just listed is on the “Potential Cut List” at all. If the FCBOE is going to start eliminating positions then they should start in their own office first. There are a number of creative ways that other school districts around the U.S. are cutting costs and I've not heard one of these ideas from FCBOE. All they want is more money to spend from the taxpayers. They need to clean up the inefficiencies, reduce wasteful spending, and look at cut fuel costs on existing buses while going green before they come to us for any more cash.

Vote without Marion Key??

Submitted by g8trgrl on Tue, 08/05/2008 - 9:19am.

How in the world could they have such an important vote without Marion Key? Where was she? These people amaze me. Todd abstains? What message is that? Just vote no if you don't like it. Why did the people of this county keep these people in office? I can say I voted against all 3 of the Board members that were up for re-election. I have not found anyone willing to admit they voted for them. I have friends who will lose their jobs if the threat the Board is giving of whose jobs will be lost, but I still can not vote for a SPLOST. They can find the money somewhere else.If the Board had followed the redistricting committee's recommendation for school lines - they would have saved a bunch of money on gas, but no, they want to waste gas money & waste all the money on the redistricting sham.

They had to...

Submitted by sniffles5 on Tue, 08/05/2008 - 10:18am.

Once their re-elections were assured, the School Board had a very short window of opportunity to cram a SPLOST measure on the ballot, less than three weeks. The absolute deadline was Monday August 4th.

It's amazing that they went from "everything is fine, vote for us!" on July 15 to "the system is going to HELL unless we get a SPLOST!" on July 21.

Marion Key continues her disturbing habit of going AWOL when the going gets tough: missed this year's budget workshop, missed the SPLOST public input meeting, and now missed the SPLOST vote.

Ms. Key

Submitted by heatjam on Tue, 08/05/2008 - 10:29am.

According to Dr Todd, she missed the public input meeting so that she could help her son, who had just returned from Iraq, find a place to live. He could defend our freedom but not find suitable housing. Go figure!

Todd and Key: Useless

Submitted by NUK_1 on Tue, 08/05/2008 - 10:59am.

That explanation sounds really weak and doesn't account for missing the very important budget workshop or SPLOST meetings before. Of course, Todd's abstention is a glaring lack of anything resembling leadership, a trait that is expected on a board that sets direction for the entire school system. "I dunno" is the opposite of anything resembling leadership.

I'm not quite sure why people feel like Key is a bright spot on the board when I've always viewed her as definitely part of the problem, but oh well. Todd? He's there to be part of the decision-making process and opted-out. Why even be on the board if you don't have an opinion?

Ms. Key missing the vote

Submitted by g8trgrl on Tue, 08/05/2008 - 10:57am.

I can live with Ms. Key missing the input, she could surely get caught up on that info. But, to miss the VOTE, that is not right. Now, she can pick either side down the road - support the SPLOST or dis it & she is safe. She needs to be on the record with the public where she stands on this important issue. I know where Smith, Smola & Wright are - not sure about Todd & I don't like it at all.

I like the idea of them giving themselves a raise - maybe THEN this county will vote them out!

New leadership--not new taxes

Submitted by Woody on Tue, 08/05/2008 - 8:53am.

It's time to dump Supt. DeCotis.

Pay raises for the school board

Submitted by loanarranger707 on Tue, 08/05/2008 - 8:05am.

Our school board members make $500 a month while the county commissioners make about $2,000 a month.

I think it would be only fair for them to get a big pay raise once the SPLOST is out of the way.

SURELY YOU JEST!!!!??

Submitted by wheeljc on Tue, 08/05/2008 - 10:31am.

Surely you are jesting in your suggestion!!??

Pay raises for the school board -- Yes

Submitted by loanarranger707 on Wed, 08/06/2008 - 3:38pm.

Would you like to bet with me that the school board won't request a pay raise right after the SPLOST is approved? How much warning did you get about the SPLOST vote itself?

Aquatic Center

Submitted by heatjam on Tue, 08/05/2008 - 5:47am.

Not on the ballot referendum. What a pity!! That was the only reason that I MAY have voted in favor of this.

Aquatic Center, For What?

Submitted by Dondol on Tue, 08/05/2008 - 8:40am.

We need an Aquatic center like a D_mn hole in the head. Spend our money on educating our children not swimming. Some of the ways people want to spend other peoples money just amazes me. If you want your kids to go swimming take them to the Kedren pool.
Also, a raise in property taxes is a deduction, a Splost is not! Do the Math (but with the new math curriculum that might take at least 4 people to do it).

sarcasm

Submitted by heatjam on Tue, 08/05/2008 - 9:54am.

I guess that my subtle sarcasm didn't quite come thru on my last post.
Sorry!

Geez Heatjam

Submitted by sniffles5 on Tue, 08/05/2008 - 10:12am.

Geez Heatjam, for a second I thought you'd turned to the dark side of the Force, supporting the mega-pool! Sticking out tongue