Fayette County voters will

decide on Tuesday whether or not the sales tax should be

increased by one cent to finance a $90 million school

construction and improvement package. Proponents of the

special local option sales tax (SPLOST), like Janet

Smola, who co-chairs the Fayette Citizens for Continued

Excellence in Education, claim the tax and $50 million

bond package is financially sound and is the best course

of action for the school board to take, as it contends

with a growth rate of 1,000 students a year.

Opponents claim the tax

will fuel population density in the county, cause a

hardship for seniors on fixed incomes and allow the

school board to basically write a blank check.

The tax will stay in place

for five years, or until revenues generated by the tax

reach the $90 million mark. The bond sale will be paid

back from the money raised by the SPLOST, and according

to Dr. John DeCotis, Fayette County School

Superintendent, allow proposed projects at all schools in

the county to start simultaneously.

Passage of the tax, which

would up the retail sales tax from 5 to 6 percent, will

provide the funds necessary to house and educate 5,000

more students anticipated in the school system over the

next five years.

The funds will provide the

money needed to buy property to build two 800-student

capacity elementary schools, one 1,200 student capacity

middle school, and one 1,800 student capacity high

school.

One of two elementary

schools is targeted for construction on a site to be

determined south of Fayetteville. The other elementary

school and a middle school would be built between

Peachtree City and Fayetteville. Board members agreed

that an escrow account would be set up for a new high

school south of Fayetteville. A large enough tract of

land for the middle school also would be home to another

high school as the future demands.

According to project

proposals, major improvements are planned for all

elementary school playgrounds and there will be

electrical upgrades at Brooks, East Fayette,

Fayetteville, Huddleston, Oak Grove, Peachtree City,

North Fayette and Tyrone elementary schools. This would

allow for installation of the upgraded technology,

including additional computers, over a five year span at

these facilities. New lighting and energy management

systems are included in the proposal.

Sandy Creek High School

would get an auditorium if the SPLOST passes, along with

expanded physical education facilities. Stadium

improvements at Fayette County High School will include

bleacher repair and replacement of the track.

The Starr's Mill stadium

amenities would be included such as visitors' bleachers,

visitors' concession stands and a press box. McIntosh

High School will get a new physical education facility

and major improvements to the existing stadium.

DeCotis and the board has

emphasized from the beginning of the SPLOST discussion

that general operating funds can no longer be used to

finance construction.

Every $50,000 trailer that

has to be purchased, results in a decrease in funds for

instruction. The district now has 98 trailer classrooms

in place and the board admits that failure of the SPLOST

would most likely result in more trailers and possibly

double sessions or year round school.

The polls open at 7 a.m.

and close at 7 p.m. Voters who do not know their

precincts should call the Carolyn Combs, county election

manager at 770-460-5730 Ext. 408 for the correct

location.