I have been a resident of Fayette County for a very long time, but I admit I have never really paid that much attention to local politics. Shame on me! As a good citizen, I pay my taxes and vote regularly, but I am guilty of voting along party lines, which is always Republican.

Now I am looking at local events and see that our local school board, composed entirely of Republicans, has raised our taxes and wants even more through a special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST).

The Fayette County Board of Education has provided little evidence as to how they have or will reduce spending as they ask for more funding through the ESPLOST. Tactics used by board administration to promote the ESPLOST are designed to threaten the loss of jobs if it does not pass. How can that happen since ESPLOST funds can not be used for salaries?

Recently, Sam Sweat gave an ESPLOST presentation at a Board of Realtors meeting. He said he wasn’t there to promote the SPLOST, just present the facts. The PowerPoint presentation basically showed how if the SPLOST was not passed the potential was there for the quality of the school system to be in jeopardy. At the end of the presentation, Mr. Sweat mentioned that the board was looking at spending cuts as well.

A fiscally responsible board would have seen this shortfall coming and would have implemented cuts in order to spare the taxpayer further costs. The board has adopted a tax-and-spend mentality, and the Fayette taxpayers are expected once again to pay up.

I am casting a vote for Nicole File, write-in candidate for Post 1 against Janet Smola for the Fayette County Board of Education. We need to send a message that we want a different kind of leadership at the BOE.

Edith G. Carpenter

Fayetteville, Ga.

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