So why is there such a need

for more classroom space and upgrading of our schools?

Obviously, everyone is well aware of the growth that has

occurred in this county over the past few years. Most

people who are against the SPLOST are quick to blame the

growth on developers who build subdivisions with numerous

new homes in them.

I wonder how many of the

families who move into these new developments are

longtime residents of Fayette County who are taking the

opportunity to move-up and reselling their former home to

a family moving into the county.

If that is the case, then

the development is being fueled more by longtime

residents moving into new developments more than new

citizens coming into the county. Even if new citizens who

are moving into the county are fueling the development,

we should be proud that others are attracted to our

county. I do not know many people who want to live in a

place that is not improving each day.

Development of the county

cannot be halted. It will occur either through developers

or by individuals buying one parcel of land at a time. We

should give the county commissioners and city council

some credit for monitoring the development and making

certain that it all fits with the overall growth plan for

the county. If the vast majority of the new housing

development occurred piecemeal, there is no telling what

Fayette County would be like not only today, but tomorrow

as well.

Our kids need our support.

Our school system desperately needs additional money to

take care of a very pressing need today. I am glad that

our current board of education had the courage to propose

this SPLOST. Their courage not only addresses a pressing

need for more classroom space and facilities upgrades

today, but also they have done a great job in planning

for future growth to prevent having to come to the

citizens and ask for more money every few years.

I have attended many board

meetings and will attend many more in the future. I am

impressed with the way our board is very careful of how

they spend our money and manage the school system for our

kids.

The SPLOST is the best way

in which we can immediately begin to improve the

facilities in which our kids are educated. Many have

promoted the idea of imposing an impact fee on

developers. The impact fee will provide some additional

revenue but it will be negligible and take years to

amount to any significant amount. The SPLOST is for $90

million dollars and can only be imposed upon us for five

years or less. If the $90 million dollars is collected

prior to the five year time period, then the penny sales

tax is dropped.

I am certain that if our

schools continue to excel the way that they have today

and in the past, growth in this county will continue.

Surely, there will come a time again in the future when

more dollars will likely be needed for more classrooms

and building upgrades. However, today the need for

additional money for our kids and schools is immediate.

We must join together and

vote YES for the SPLOST to continue the support for our

kids and their top-notch education in Fayette County.

Emory Wilkerson

Fayetteville

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