School bonds have always

been a possibility to finance new schools, and they

remain a possibility. With presidential primaries,

general primaries, and general elections coming up next

year, there will be plenty of opportunities to propose

something constructive to the taxpayers without creating

the expense, and inviting the low voter turnout, of a

special election.

The following table shows

the millage rates we have been paying for our schools

over the last nine years, with the newly released 1999

figures added in. As you examine this table, keep in mind

that 1 mill is equivalent to $40 of tax per $100,000 of

fair market value. Thus the 20-mill limit on the schools'

operating budget is $800 per $100,000 of fair market

value.

Fayette County School

Millage Rates, 1990-99

Year School School Total

budget bonds

1990 16.79 4.02 20.81

1991 18.75 4.24 22.99

1992 18.04 3.99 22.03

1993 17.84 3.99 21.83

1994 18.84 5.99 24.83

1995 19.84 5.59 25.43

1996 19.84 5.24 25.08

1997 19.84 4.99 24.83

1998 19.84 4.15 23.99

1999 19.84 3.69 23.53

I believe it was in 1993

that bonds were last issued, which would explain the

2-mill bond tax increase for 1994. Then, as I have argued

all along during the SPLOST campaign, the rate went down

gradually year by year.

Each 1-mill increase in our

bond tax should enable us to borrow $31,250,000 (or so).

This assumes we'd get 20-year bonds with a 5 percent

interest rate. (Other duration and interest rate

possibilities exist, but this gives you an idea of how

things work.) That one-mill would then decrease over the

life of the bonds, just like it is with existing bonds.

If the school board would

eliminate the waste and the frills in its proposals, and

proceed with a bond issue in a reasonable amount, it

could have all the resources to build any new schools

that are needed, and avoid trailers, overcrowded

classrooms, double sessions, and all the ridiculous

things it has threatened.

Our educational

deficiencies are reflected in our media's inability to do

the math. Fayette County citizens are portrayed as

different from those of other counties, who fall for the

misinformation that is fed to them. Enough of our

citizens understand both the math and the political

process to let us avoid the mindless taxation others are

all too willing to endure. Our children do matter, but we

can handle their educational needs in a smarter way. The

school board can either listen, or move out of the way.

Claude Y. Paquin

Fayette County

[email protected]

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