Friday, February 13, 2009
Camden County School Board seeks an ESPLOST in March referendum.
http://www.tribune-georgian.com/articles/2009/02/13/news/top_stories/1topstory2.13.txt
Here's the official school board pitch for the ESPLOST from their web site:
http://www.camden.k12.ga.us/esplost/index.htm
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
7 comments:
So my question is does the board plan to reduce local ad valorem taxes if this is passed? A temporary 3 million dollar reduction in state funds and a 60,000,000.00 SLPOST just doesn't add up
If you will closely read the second link I provided, you will find your answer.
I think I will wait to hear Steve Berry opinion on this issue. Unless one of the potential candidates has something intelligent to add.
Because I, at a glance reject the idea UNLESS the school system will reduce the amount they now receive in advalorem taxes.
The Superintendant of Schools just elevated property taxes for everyone in this County and his only justification was "If I don't I will lose federal impact aid" well if you stuck it to me to get federal impact aid. Why should I voluntarily give you additional esplost money. REDUCE the millage then give them the ESPLOST.
Soory - had no idea you were too busy to find the answer.
Here it is for you:
"Capital needs of cities and counties such as buildings, roads, bridges, parks and infrastructure could be addressed by the general SPLOST. School system capital needs such as schools, land for school buildings, school bus purchases, and technology were to be addressed using the ESPLOST. Proceeds from either tax could not be used for general operating costs such as the salaries and benefits for employees or for routine costs for providing instruction."
So no - you weill not see a rollback. But the scholl board would argue - and correctly - that if those capital improvements are made in the abscence of an ESPLOST, your ad valorem taxes will most assuredly go up.
So Jay if that is correct how did they build St. Marys Middle,St. Marys Elementary, and the Ninth Grade additions without an E-SPLOST. Surely that has to be 30 million worth of construction without an E-SPLOST. Now does that mean they have been sticking it to us with regards to Ad Valorem taxes to carry on such an aggressive expansion of facilities.
They did'nt. I guess it's true: you can lead a horse - ass and all - to knowledge, but you can't make him ingest it. had you bothered to read the article I provided a link to, you would have known the answer to your 2nd question as well.
Perhaps if I put it here, right in front of your face, you will now read it and comprehend it.
Here goes:
"In 1997 voters in Camden County approved a one cent sales tax to fund capital projects for educational purposes for 5 years. The initial ESPLOST generated $ 25,937,043.05 for new construction, renovations, and additions to Camden County Schools.
Funding provided by the ESPLOST between 1997 and 2003 was used to finance, renovate, and expand existing schools, help construct new schools, and enhance instructional technology. All of the funds collected were used for the construction of and improvements to buildings used exclusively for instruction while support facilities such as the administrative offices and the transportation and maintenance complex were funded from other sources.
In 2003 when the time came to renew the existing ESPLOST the Board of Education decided to stop collecting the tax because current needs had been met and they believed a continuation of the one cent sales tax was no longer in the best interest of citizens in Camden County. Following is a summary of major projects completed with the initial ESPLOST.
Project
Cost
Construction of Camden High School 9th Grade Center $ 10,330,980
Classroom Technology Improvements in all Schools $ 1,532,051
Renovations and Additions to St Marys Elementary $ 60,000
Renovations and Additions to Camden Middle School $ 3,370,692
Renovations and Additions to St Marys Middle School $ 217,350
Renovations, Additions, and furnishings for Camden High School $ 1,920,418
Construction of Sugarmill Elementary School $ 1,495,104
Construction of Mamie Lou Gross Elementary School $ 5,006,528
Construction of St Marys Middle School $ 1,412,015
Heating and Air Conditioning for Crooked River Elementary School $ 180,865
Roofing and Furnishings for Mary Lee Clark Elementary $ 93,370
Total $ 25,619,373
The School Board should have submitted the necessary paperwork to the RDC to get money from the stimilus package for capital improvements. They are shelling out billions to create building/improvements for schools.
These people are tax happy. Give, give, give is all we hear from the School Board.
In response to the other poster:
I think it would be great for the school system to have to give something back, instead of always taking. Let's start with lowering the ad valorem the school system collects! Show us TAXPAYERS some reductions that you have made. We know that you reduce the number of Assistant Superintendant titles, but how many people in the board office STILL make over $85,000.00 -100,000.00 per year.
Post a Comment