Does history repeat itself with the BOE on SPLOST?

suggarfoot's picture

Wednesday, August 4, 1999
Board is already using scare tactics
Scare tactics already being used

Okay, the issue hasn't even made the ballot yet, and already the school board is trying to frighten parents into voting for their $90 million SPLOST tax.

More portable classrooms, year-round school with staggered schedules — next we will be told that unless the SPLOST is approved the children will be forced to use textbooks from the 1950s and they will have no heat or air conditioning in the schools.

I can already imagine the school board licking their chops, anxious to spend these millions and millions of taxpayer funds. Best of all, in another few years they can return to the well once again, and ask for another increase.

Whatever happened to fiscal responsibility? If our current school administration cannot learn to live within their budget maybe it is time to replace them. That would be much cheaper than the SPLOST, and probably far more effective.

Now the Realtors in Fayette county have spoken up and said that they support the SPLOST. Surprise! These folks make their money touting our school system's benefits and are one of the beneficiaries of continued growth in the county. Why would they say no to SPLOST?

Address the problem with runaway growth in the county, make those who benefit most help support the added burden on the schools and the county by paying their fair share via impact fees. Maybe even our Realtors will kick in a few dollars to support the schools as well.

SPLOST is not the answer.

Steve Fodor
Peachtree City

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doesn't this sound familiar?
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Submitted by suggarfoot on Sat, 09/06/2008 - 2:55pm.

Wednesday, August 18, 1999
SPLOST supporters hope for low vote turnout
The sting is on.

Last week's Citizen had an article explaining that SPLOST supporters were getting organized and openly stating their hope to convince 15 percent of the county's eligible voters to vote their way, counting on resistance from only 10 percent of the people and apathy from the other 75 percent. Of course, setting this one-issue election for Tuesday, Sept. 21, a day of otherwise no particular significance, was designed to deter the voters from showing up at the polls and was the first step in fooling the people.

The Citizen article went on to explain that the SPLOST proponents had registered a committee with the Georgia Secretary of State (as called for by the Georgia Ethics in Government Act, Ga. Code section 21-5-30), so that contributions could legally be accepted and money spent on trying to influence the voters.

Since the opponents of SPLOST are generally opposed to big spending and waste, and since they have nothing to gain in the nature of fat contracts or commissions from SPLOST's defeat, they are less likely to organize and spend money. They'll probably have to rely on the common sense of the people.

If our local newspapers are to perform their job of informing the public properly, they should note that the pro-SPLOST committee will be required to file with the county election superintendent a report of contributions and expenditures. The first report is due in on Sept. 6, which is Labor Day, so chances are it will show up only on Sept. 7.

It will be interesting to see who is financially backing this SPLOST, though we are unlikely to find out till the last minute. In Cobb County, last fall, “contractors and engineers who stand to pick up much of the business” (to use the exact words of the Atlanta Constitution dated 10/21/98) were found to be the main backers of a road construction SPLOST vote. They lost!

What we already know, thanks to The Citizen article, is that an employee of the bond firm A.G. Edwards is “guiding” the SPLOST effort; and we know that A.G. Edwards was earlier selected by the school board to issue the bonds that go with the SPLOST.

That A.G. Edwards was selected without any apparent competitive bidding is just another sign the school board lacks common sense. If SPLOST is approved, A.G. Edwards will get paid a commission out of public money, a payback, indirect as it may be, for its or its employee's successful effort. The deal between the school board and A.G. Edwards represents another act of stupidity and ethical insensitivity by the school board. How much commission? It's never been reported, like it's none of our business.

The idea behind many SPLOST votes is to defeat the public by stirring up a core minority group into voting for the extra tax while keeping the general public away from the polls.

That's why these elections are like an IQ test for the population. Unless you're sharp enough, you get stung.

Claude Y. Paquin

Fayette County


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this just might be my favorite!
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Submitted by suggarfoot on Sat, 09/06/2008 - 3:08pm.

Friday, September 17, 1999
School 'Open House' a SPLOST manipulation
We attended what was billed as “Open House” at Booth Middle School on Tues., Sep 14. The “Open House” began with general remarks by the principal, Lynn Wentzel, followed by a PTO General meeting lead by the PTO President, Rosetta Brown. This portion of the evening took approximately 30 minutes. We thought we would then head to the classrooms. However, the next portion of the meeting was a 35-minute dissertation given by Janet Smola on the merits of passing SPLOST. Ms. Smola then stated “in the interest of time” she would be available in the front hall to take questions. No opposing view was put forth, nor did Mrs. Brown ask if anyone wished to respond.

After Ms. Smola's speech, we were directed to begin the “Meet the Teachers” portion of the evening, spending FIVE minutes in each class, for a grand total of 35 minutes' discussion of our child's seven academic subjects.

When we questioned Mrs. Wentzel about the SPLOST portion of the program, she immediately directed us to Mrs. Brown, stating that the PTO was responsible for having SPLOST on the agenda. We approached Mrs. Brown to ask her why there had not been a balanced presentation of SPLOST. Mrs. Brown said something about the PTO contacting “the Citizen's group” to have a speaker come to the meeting for “a five minute talk on SPLOST” and was given the names of Janet Smola, Mike Satterfield, and Debbie Condon, all of whom were at the PTO meeting. Mrs. Brown said she had “no idea” Ms. Smola was going to speak. When we asked why no one with an opposing view was invited, Mrs. Brown stated “anyone could have responded after Ms. Smola spoke”.

To say we were annoyed is an understatement, having endured the same tactics at McIntosh High School's “Open House” two weeks ago. These are the same tactics used by a “different” board the last time SPLOST came up for a vote. One would have to be pretty naive to not see how SPLOST supporters manipulated the evening advertised as an “Open House” for students' parents. None of the reminder notes sent home mentioned there would be a one sided presentation of SPLOST.

It is insulting that we were held captive and lectured about information that was readily available in a flyer and at an information desk. It is disappointing that the PTO could be manipulated and manipulate parents in such a manner.

BOB and LAUREN CLARK
Peachtree City


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