The Fayette

County Board of Education voted 5-0 Thursday to ask the

voters Sept. 21 for a $90 million special local option

sales tax and a $50 million bond sale to construct new

schools and upgrade technology and security measures at

existing schools.

The 1

percent sales tax would be imposed starting Jan. 1 and,

according to financial predictions, should raise $90

million, based on an 8 percent average annual growth rate

over five years. The sale of $50 million in general

obligation bonds would enable the board to jump start

projects in all schools and according to Superintendent

John DeCotis, avoid the effects of inflation on project

costs.

The bonds

would be paid back with the SPLOST revenue as it comes

in.

Despite the

hefty $90 million proposed, DeCotis noted that the total

cash available from the sales tax would fall short of

completing all the projects, specifically the new high

school and a second new elementary school. DeCotis said

he anticipated receiving a large portion of the

construction costs from the state Department of Education

for the two schools, but would not include the

anticipated grant money in the plan.

Instead,

SPLOST funds for the new high school, or elementary,

whatever is most needed at the time, should be put into

an escrow account, he said. "We're probably being as

conservative as we can possibly be," said Debbie

Condon, board chairman, reviewing the growth figures

presented by their financial advisors.

Board

member Mickey Littlefield called the move to escrow funds

for the $23 million high school the board's "safety

net."

The need to

prioritize projects proposed in the plan was emphasized

how we're going to do their [school's] projects,"

she said. Condon and DeCotis agreed that prioritizing is

necessary.

School

board attorney Phil Hartley cautioned the board about

being too specific. "Be careful on the obligations

you create," he said. School finance director Jim

Stephens suggested reporting on how the money is to spent

DeCotis

said the list of projects will continue to be fine-tuned

as more information is received from specific schools,

parents and the community.

He

announced the second community round table will be

Saturday at 10 a.m. at the LaFayette Education Complex.

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