Time is soon approaching for Coweta County voters to determine if the Coweta County School System’s current 1-cent sales tax for education (E-SPLOST) will be continued. If passed by voters, revenues from the March 15 referendum will fund new schools, school additions and renovations, buses, land, textbooks and technology.
The current E-SPLOST expires in June 2012. If approved by voters the continued 1-cent sales tax would be in effect until mid-2017.
The five-year E-SPLOST carries a maximum revenue of $130 million.
The stated use of the revenues received is for:
– The acquisition, construction and equipping of one or more new high schools, one or more new middle schools, one or more new elementary schools and a new transportation facility;
– Additions throughout the school system, including, but not limited to, additions at Newnan High School and Evans Middle School;
– The acquisition of buses;
– The acquisition of technology;
– The acquisition of text books and digital media;
– The acquisition of land and;
– Renovations and improvements throughout the School System, including, but not limited to, renovations and improvements at East Coweta High School, Canongate Elementary School, Newnan Crossing Elementary School, Thomas Crossroads Elementary School, Jefferson Parkway Elementary School, Northgate High School, the Central Educational Center and the Centre for Performing and Visual Arts.
The ballot also states that if the continuation of the tax is approved by the voters, such vote shall also constitute an approval of the issuance of general obligation debt of the Coweta County School System in the maximum principaI amount of $60 million for the above purposes.
Early voting on the measure began this week. The referendum date for voters to have their final say is March 15.
The Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce in November attended a meeting of the Coweta County Board of Education to express support for the continuation of the 1-cent sales tax.
Chamber chairman Vicki Kaiser praised the school system for its many innovations on behalf of students, teachers, parents and the community.
