Cox irked by part

of education bill

ROARK

[email protected]

State Rep.

Kathy Cox yesterday introduced an amendment to Gov. Roy Barnes' education

legislation that addressed what for her is a major sticking point regarding

the distribution of education funds.

A portion of

House Bill 656, according to Cox, unfairly penalizes counties without

a special purpose local option sales tax for schools when determining

the amount of funds received for capital projects.

The definition

of "sales tax wealth" in the proposed bill refers to potential

sales tax revenue rather than actual revenue, she said.

"It's

going to hold districts accountable for what they could raise with SPLOST

even if they don't have one," Cox added. "I don't see how it's

fair to count sales tax revenue if the voters won't let them have that."

Her ire at

this measure if motivated largely by Fayette County's potential to be

hit hard since a sales tax for schools has been soundly defeated at the

polls in recent years, forcing the school system to go with a bond referendum,

which passed.

Some state

leaders will say that's too bad Fayette should have passed a sales tax.

But Cox argues that a sales tax can hurt the elderly and poorer residents

of the county. "It's a regressive tax," she said.

Another thing

that upset her about this issue was that it was "glossed over"

and not discussed in committee. "I feel like I was blindsided,"

she said.

Cox planned

to offer an amendment on the House floor yesterday afternoon that adjusted

the definition of sales tax wealth to equal what is actually brought in.

That would make Fayette County's factor zero, she said.

"I don't

expect [her amendment] to pass," she added. "But a point will

be made."

Cox's child

endangerment bill is scheduled to hit the floor today, the 33rd day of

the 40-day legislative session.