Students assemble Monday for a class at Powers Ferry Elementary School. The school is among several in the Cobb School District being eyed for either rebuilding or consolidation if a new SPLOST is passed in March of next year.
Staff/Todd Hull
Staff/Todd Hull
Officials and consultants to Cobb’s district are eyeing a public referendum next March 19. Janine Eveler, director of Cobb Elections, said that would be the only question on the ballot for that day.
“I’m not sure if being the lone item on the ballot will present an advantage either way, but it should mean that those who turn out to vote are well-informed about the issue, and I think that’s a good thing,” Cobb Superintendent Michael Hinojosa said.
Voters countywide will likely be asked to extend the 1 percent sales tax for five more years, beginning Jan. 1, 2014. Former superintendent James Wilson, whose firm is drafting a project list for Cobb Schools, estimates the tax would bring in $717 million over the five years for Cobb Schools.
Staff at Marietta City Schools are drafting that district’s project list, which they plan to present to the board during a retreat on Sept. 7, but Superintendent Dr. Emily Lembeck said eliminating the district’s $15.6 million in long-term debt and the Marietta High auditorium debt would be at the top of the list.
Hinojosa acknowledged there is a risk of “SPLOST fatigue” among voters, given that a March vote would come just eight months after the regional TSPLOST vote, which went down in flames.
But, “the Education SPLOST has an established track record that is familiar to most Cobb County parents and taxpayers, and the projects it has funded are visible at 120 school district facilities around the county,” he said. “By March, voters should be very clear on what the education SPLOST is all about and the types of capital projects it supports.”
Hinojosa said his board would vote in November or December to call for a public referendum in March.
Districts now may only hold SPLOST referendums on regularly-scheduled election days, of which there are two in 2013: in March or November. A November 2013 referendum, though, would cause a gap in collections.
County voters last approved a SPLOST for Cobb’s two districts in a special election in September 2008, where it passed by 61 percent of the vote. Turnout was only about 10 percent. It was originally projected to bring in about $857 million over the five years but was later lowered to $659 million.
Wilson, whose Education Planners Inc. firm was paid $75,000 to create Cobb’s proposed SPLOST IV project list, presented a draft project list to the school board on Aug. 8.
Cobb’s projects include building two career academies at a cost of $33 million each, one in south Cobb and the other in north; building a new, $29 million Osborne High School to replace the existing school; and consolidating or rebuilding eight 1950s-era elementary schools: Belmont Hills, Eastvalley, Harmony Leland, LaBelle, Milford, Powers Ferry, Sedalia Park and Brumby.
Cobb also wants to replace theaters, gymnasiums, or both, at five high schools; and replace “temporary” buildings at six more schools.
The theater and gym rebuilds would be at Harrison and Wheeler high schools; theater replacements at North Cobb, Pope and South Cobb high schools, and replacement gyms at Lassiter, Walton and Campbell high schools.
The schools where temporary buildings would be considered are at Compton, Mount Bethel, Tritt and Sope Creek elementary schools and Tapp and Daniell middle schools.
Cobb Schools officials are now working on getting feedback from principals who have been asked to talk to their Parent-Teacher-Student Associations and school communities about needs for their schools.
At the school board’s Oct. 10 work session, they should be getting that feedback from the individual school communities.
In Marietta City, Superintendent Lembeck said her district’s number one priority will be to eliminate all debt, which includes paying off the Marietta High $7 million bond for the auditorium, if a fourth SPLOST is approved.
“There will be a number of items that impact our schools positively and of course technology will be considered,” she said. “(SPLOST has) become a tool and an expectation in education.”
Marietta’s Board Chairwoman Jill Mutimer said that with so much of her school district’s budget going toward personnel expenses and the attrition cuts from the federal and state governments, SPLOST is an “alternative source” for funding for capital needs.
“I prefer the SPLOST … rather than bonds, which is only paid for by property owners,” she said. “We’re going to be taking a really hard look at our needs … but my first priority is using the SPLOST to eliminate debt, including the auditorium bond.”
The board retreat to discuss the project list will be held in the boardroom at 12:30 p.m. on Sept. 7 and is open to the public.
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How many students do you want in your children's classroom? 40 50 60? How about 60 or 70 year old school buildings that need replacement? Tires for buses ..... get the whole picture yet?
You are just another dolt who cannot comprehend how large the school district is. 104 Thousand Students , 112 school buildings, teachers, support staff, on and on.
You line of thinking suggest that we should just shut down the schools and the rest of the government. We do not need paved roads, water/sewer, traffic lights, police, fire, etc. All so you can pay a few dollars less a year in taxes THAT YOU BENEFIT FROM 10X than you pay in.
Educate yourself and maybe your comments will not be so simple minded.
You do realize that without SPLOST CCSD Board can raise your property tax from 18 mills to 20 mills and the CCSD board could issue bonds (paid by property tax) to fund construction, additions, remodels, and maintenance. I would much rather pay a 1% sales tax than have my property tax go up. Everyone in Cobb plus non residents pay sales tax. Remember most of our property taxes have gone down due to property value declining during the recession.
You rant and rave without FACTS regarding the CCSD budget. The CCSD budget HAS BEEN CUT the last 10 years due to the continued austerity cuts started by Sonny Perdue. CCSD local property taxes now fund 51% of the budget while the State of GA now funds only 37% with continue cuts each year. 10 years ago this was reversed.
Maybe you Tea Baggers should put the Kool Aid down and actually see what is going on under the Gold Dome. Public Schools in Georgia are being systematically destroyed by ALEC led Republicans by defunding public schools and shifting the tax funding to the local taxpayers - ALL against State Law aka QBE and the State Constitution.
You are playing right into their hands by having us fight each other while they continue to take care of their buddies - that bankers and Wall Street. Before you start calling me a liberal Democrat I will be voting Libertarian in Nov. neither of the candidates we have now will represent ALL Americans instead of their partisan supporters.
Sick of the continous taxes, VOTE NO.
There is nothing special about maintenance.
Interesting... the most legitmate pieces of the SPLOST pie are blue and gradually work their way around the color wheel to red.
But, they are admitting up front that they are not going to use the money for special projects. So if you vote yes, you have no one to blame but yourself.
Of course we could combine this vote with another election saving 250000 but special interest (the school system in this case) fear that they would lose. It's that simple.
Based on our procedures:
There were no findings and we conclude that the CCSD SPLOST III proceeds were disbursed in compliance with the SPLOST III Resolution.
There were no material findings and we conclude that the CCSD SPLOST III program is following sound procurement procedures and are being disbursed in a fiscally responsible manner.
We conclude that the CCSD SPLOST III administrative controls have been established to ensure the proper management of the sales tax proceeds received by the District.
Based on a cost comparison report by RS Means Company that was provided to us by the State Department of Education and the 2012 Annual School Construction Report by the School Planning and Management magazine which reviews construction costs for the year 2011, it appears that the CCSD new school construction cost per square foot is comparable to or lower than the average cost per square foot for local, statewide, and regional school districts for the year ending December 31, 2011.
Based on our procedures, we conclude that the SPLOST III technological expenditures made in 2011 are reasonable considering the potentially volatile market environment for these products.
Based on our audit procedures, we conclude that the SPLOST Ill sales tax proceeds are being invested in a sound fiscal manner.
That is the budget. Live within it.
SPLOST is just an additional tax that allows the taxes collected by the millage rate to be used for administrative salaries that have spun out of control.
The revenues collected through ad valorem taxes are for education, not a jobs program for overpaid administrators who add little or nothing to the educational attainment of our children.
Then the SPLOST revenues are used for wants, not needs.
Our school campuses, especially at the high schools, are becoming country club type environments with sports and extracurricular activity facilties that rival private colleges.
CCSS IS OUT OF CONTROL!!
CCSD covers 51% of the budget from Cobb County property taxes and SPLOST. The State of Georgia only funds about 37% because of austerity cuts over the last 10 years despite the QBE funding law. Cobb's overall population and student population has grown tremendously over the last decade but school funding has continued to decline.
CCSD is down over 1800 teaching positions over the last 4 years along with other staff cuts. It's funny how idiots like you spout off about TAXES without a basic understanding of how Cobb schools are funded. Remember that housing value are down which means property tax revenue is down. You do realize that a some point new tax revenue must be raised in order to meet Federal and State Unfunded mandates. What do you suggest Mr. Know it All. I await your BS answer.
if you think the Athletic booster clubs and bad parents are paying for all of the construction, upgrades and maintenance you are fooling yourself. No way!!
Prove it!!!
Just look at the SPLOST III project list to get an idea of some of the projects being paid for.
Also demand to see the SPLOST IV list before voting on it.
My point is that the SPLOST funds as well as the 18.90 mills needs to first go to basic educational facilties and staff.
For instance at Lassiter HS where my kids went.
Why couldn't the tennis courts at Harrison Park be used by the high school which is right next door, They are mostly vacant during the school day
Why couldn't the baseball fields at Sandy Plains Park, again literally right next door to the high school, be used for Lassiter baseball? Totally vacant during the school day.
Just a few examples I am sure there are more.
Seniors receive a disproportionate share of benefits from our society and need to contribute in the years when they are receiving the most benefit. After all, thanks to Reagan most of them will never pay in what these younger folks will have to to receive less benefits.
Back to the basics.
As it is I am glad my money is not going to support the non essential spending that is so rampant in our school system.
If we could choose, I certainly would have opted out of SS and Medicare. They are a terrible deal!
To "Please Vote Yes": Get a grip!!! The kids will NOT suffer from lack of SPLOST funds. And, each homeowner will get a break on total taxation by increasing homeowner taxes less than through SPLOST revenue!!! Calculate it out, folks!
Every time there is a school issue, we hear "it's for the children". Well, the kids have enough already. We are sucked dry, yet school scores don't increase. Cobb taxpayers need to vote "HELL NO!" on the next school SPLOST! Remember, each SPLOST has only passed by a slim margin (several hundred votes!).
There may be wasteful spending, but rebuilding schools that are over 50 years old, is not it!
Too many Cobb households are like mine: Strapped for cash during this recession. (And, we never spent for vacations, luxuries, etc. during the good economic years!)
Schools have this easy access to funds that is being abused! Just visit any Cobb school and you will see plenty of waste! When you add in this amount in the current 1%, you realize that we are all paying way too much in taxation to live in Cobb. If this amount were added to our residential property taxes, the amount for each homeowner/renter would be astronomical!!! Quit the insanity!!!