Another

bond issue, or special local option sales tax is expected

to be on the ballot in November, based on the Fayette

County School Board's need to come up with $12 million in

local funds to build two new schools. County school

superintendent Dr. John DeCotis was directed by the board

Monday night "pursue some options" on how to

package a SPLOST or a bond issue to come up with the $12

million necessary to accept $8,416,458 in state capital

and growth funds plus fulfill needs at existing schools.

School board chairman Debbie Condon said, "Let's

look at it, a SPLOST and a bond issue, and see how each

will affect the taxpayer. We also need to address equity

among different schools."

Last

August, the board approved and accepted the state

application to obtain state funding for one new

elementary school and one new middle school. The dilemma

is coming up with the local share. Failure to produce the

local funds for the elementary school by June of next

year, and the middle school by July 2001 would result in

the board losing the $8 million in state funds.

Failure of

last year's SPLOST forced the school board to dip into

its reserve fund to pay for the construction of Peeples

Elementary, according to Debbie Condon, board chairman.

"We can't afford to do that anymore," Condon

said. "We had about $14 or $15 million in the

reserve fund and we have to build it back up."

"Timing

is crucial," DeCotis told the board. "Even

November is close," added board member Woody

Shelnutt. If the board failed to put together a SPLOST or

bond issue by November, they would have to wait until

March or April.

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