With

just three weeks to muster support for a $90

million special local option sales tax and bond

referendum, the steering committee called Fayette

Citizens for Continued Excellence in Education is

ready to tell county voters why they should vote

yes Sept. 21.

According

to co-chairmen Janet Smola and Don Apking,

printed material outlining all the facts and

figures involved in setting a one cent sales tax

and selling $50 million in bonds is now

available. Speakers are scheduled to address

voters at various schools around the county, and

the seeds have been sown to promote grass roots

movements within school communities.

"We

have been meeting every week," Apking said.

He

reported that initial feedback from the public

has been "very positive."

Smola

said she feels voting for the SPLOST and bond

referendum is the right thing to do based on the

facts. "We've been given carte blanche by

the board and have had access to every shred of

information," Smola said. "I've become

so comfortable with this being the right

thing."

Recalling

the defeat of the SPLOST two years ago, Smola

urged the county's taxpayers and parents to be

open-minded. "We're dealing with a new

superintendent and a board with different

members. "We're enjoying a lot of

responsiveness with this board," Smola said.

"Let's set yesterday aside," she urged.

Passage

of the tax and bond package would provide 300

classrooms or space for 5,000 additional

students, property for two elementary schools,

one middle school and one high school, playground

improvements, electrical and technology upgrades

at existing schools, a new auditorium for Sandy

Creek High School, stadium improvements at

Fayette County High School, concession stand,

lockers and bleachers, plus rest rooms at Starr's

Mill stadium and major renovations at McIntosh

High School, including a new physical education

building and upgrades to the existing stadium.

The

SPLOST calls for a one-cent sales tax to be

levied starting Jan. 1, and the sale of $50

million in bonds to provide the funds to begin

the proposed projects simultaneously.

The

bonds will be repaid through the money generated

from the sales tax. The tax ends in five years,

or when the school board collects $90 million,

whichever occurs first.

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