My E-SPLOST Journey

When I first heard about the E-SPLOST I was against it. I found it incredible that with $200MM budget we didn’t have enough money.

But as a finance person I dug in and searched for the facts. I figured it would take me a few hours at most to discredit this initiative. Well hours turned into days and weeks. I now find myself on a team of people that support this initiative with nothing more to gain than to help our community.

First I found that Governor Perdue and the legislature have reduced our funding over $20 million dollars in the past few years while increasing required spending. Every school system but 3 (Fayette, Burke, and Wayne) already have an ESPLOST and very few are near the maximum millage rate like Fayette (19.75 out of 20). Thus, the state can take the attitude that local districts can make up the difference in state funds through other methods, Fayette’s options are minimal without impacting local programs that benefit our children like paraprofessionals in Kindergarten and 1st grade. These programs are not required by the state but result in reading scores that are among the highest in the state and create the foundation for our children’s future success in all grades.

Next, I found that over 70 % of the money spent in 2007 went for salaries and benefits. Right away I knew that salaries and benefits would be in play. The FCBOE has said they will tighten their belts, they have identified programs such as the paraprofessionals, music for band, drama, chorus, and choir, as well as school nurses, middle school resource officers, and early intervention programs are all possible places to cut money to pay for the computers, buses, building maintenance, and security upgrades we need. Further, teacher benefit cost sharing may go up as that is an easy cost reduction. The money for these delayed investments must come from somewhere.

I was certain we could cut administration costs, every company can do that. I found that Fayette County’s cost of administration is exactly at the average of the 12 school systems in Metro Atlanta; however we have the highest results. In addition, that cost includes “extras that support our children” such as the resource officer at Flat Rock, Booth and Rising Starr as well as nurses at every school. If we make more investments than other systems, I would have expected “above average” cost of administration costs.

We are all on tighter budgets, however, nearly all of our school costs are “fixed” which means that even if our enrollment is down ½ % as stated in the Citizen, and that decrease was spread over nearly 30 schools. Thus, there was no real reduction to be had in any one school. Further, you will hear about the school in the middle of nowhere. Rivers Elementary will result in relief of Burch Elem overcrowding and 14 trailers of children will be in the building. Further, we will get Burch Elementary back to the smaller class sizes enjoyed by the rest of Fayette’s elementary schools.

I do not want to “sell” or “scare” anybody on this issue, I feel the facts speak for themselves and now we need to decide if we will continue to invest in our excellent schools that benefit the entire Fayette Community.

Neil Sullivan

Co Chair Fayette Citizens for Children
www.yesfayetteESPLOST.org

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Submitted by bowser on Mon, 11/03/2008 - 7:37pm.

Mr. Sullivan, you’ve made your e-splost arguments logically and graciously. For that I salute you. You’ve also helped persuade me to vote for the measure.

I believe the funding challenge to the schools is real – too real to be solved by wishful thinking, fat-trimming or even Mr. Paquin’s musings on computer maintenance. And second-guessing past decisions certainly won’t do the trick.

Some people will argue we should “send a message” to the board by defeating the 1-cent tax, but the real recipients of that message at the end of the day would be students and staff. And make no mistake: the performance and reputation of Fayette schools IS at the top of list of factors in holding up our county’s property values.

The schools are already under pressure and we are seeing growing gaps between performance in different parts of the county. There is no guarantee that more local funding will help reverse that. But to withhold it now, under these circumstances, seems to be self-defeating.

I no longer have children in Fayette schools, but they served my family well and I am willing to pony up a small amount to offset the effect of the state cuts. That said, if the measure fails I dearly hope the opponents are right and that quality can be preserved through other means.

As for Ms. File, for someone who claims to be an open book she is a curiously blank slate. At this moment, less than 12 hours before polls open, the “issues” and “splost” sections of her web site remain “under construction.”

She did not respond when I and at least one other blogger here asked basic questions about whether she thinks the school system faces a funding challenge at all; if so what she would do about; whether she thinks some front-line workers are expendable if splost fails; what exactly she means by saying maximum efficiency should be the system's top priority etc.

To my knowledge she has not taken a position on much of anything other than her disdain for Ms. Smola and the system administration. Some obviously disagree, but that’s not enough for me. I need specifics about moving the system forward in tough times. She never provided them, and she didn’t get my vote.

Now I'm sure sugarrfoot will be along any minute now to tell me what an idiot I am Smiling

Submitted by hi grover on Mon, 11/03/2008 - 9:18pm.

I think Mrs. File did a good job of stating her case. I think it is rather obvious by her writings where she stands on the issues. Did you ever call her to ask her your questions? So what if she did not update her website to your standards. Did the competiton do it? I looked at Janet's website, and it is the same as when she ran in the primary which was before the millage rate increase and before the SPLOST. I think you ought to let this dog lie.

The Crime Dog's picture
Submitted by The Crime Dog on Mon, 11/03/2008 - 10:34pm.

Her signs say fiscal responsibility.

Her web site suggests no cuts. Her letters to the editor suggest no cuts.

She says we don't need the eSPLOST. Yet we don't know where she'll "cut the fat."

Reminds ya of a certain VP candidate who thinks geography is a function of foreign policy, don'tchathink???

File has run out of time to win my vote. I'll stick with the devil I know, as we at least know her motives.


suggarfoot's picture
Submitted by suggarfoot on Tue, 11/04/2008 - 4:49am.

You talk about File's unanswered questions. Smola and Smith's actions have already answered for them.

My thoughts? If I trusted a jukie, or alcoholic, to take my money to the bank, and instead they went to Vegas and threw it all away, would I trust them again?

Remember their argument would be they were gonna double it, and they knew what was best.

Or would I, having a choice the second time, trust someone to take my money to the bank that is known to be honest and never done anything like that?

You have to be fair here. To me, giving SPLOST money now, would be no different than handing my money to someone and telling them to have a nice time in Vegas.


Submitted by head_ragg on Mon, 11/03/2008 - 9:23pm.

Janet may not want to talk, but invite you to join her emails. You know, one for Kendron, Highgrove, elderly, another for swimmers. You know how you can specialize those to please each group without telling everyone your honest opions and maybe loosing votes. By the time she thinks she's won, it will be too late for the voters.

Submitted by head_ragg on Mon, 11/03/2008 - 9:16pm.

Why think SPLOST money will go for the children? All other funds for their good went for schools that stand half full.

Face the fact people won't vote SPLOST with certain people on the board. Their track records are the strongest arguments not to vote for it.

Most feel SPLOST, at this time would only be used to bail out the empty schools the Federal government won't support this spring.

File can't say I'm for this or that till she gets in there and sees all the damage. Because some on the BOE have been less than truthful, vague with different little agendas, no one knows fully what is going on.

I do feel we will get more for our money and our children with File than Ms Smola. Ms Smola is off the reservation. She should stick with her work for free jobs, because that is about all she is worth.

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