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My E-SPLOST JourneyWhen 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 
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