maybe not but the school board will put one before the voters september 19 to raise up to $14 million for a football facility with all the trimmings, improvements to lcchs and debt reduction.
the board also approved trading the county summers field for an acre of land adjacent to the current bus barn where the new field will be built.
indications are the land swap designed to end the controversy over the current/former (depending on your point of view) assets of the ag. authority will be finalized.
the barnesville city council has set another meeting for june 11 to discuss the matter in executive session. the council was reportedly close to a decision earlier this week.
if the city okays the swap, the county could finish it up at its june 12 regular meeting.
see barnesville.com for more info.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
48 comments:
Vote NO to any splost!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry, but I'll be voting YES, since I have an interest in the school system....my children. Of course, I'm sure you'll get a lot of support in voting No from the people who are paying private school tuition.
Just about anyone who owns property and pays a tax bill annually to Lamar County should want to vote yes for any splost.
We have needed a new facility for so long. I will be voting yes!
stupid is as stupid does.
who are you talking to? The yes people or the no people?
If it was for education alone and a good program so the local Lamar grads could speak English or count change instead of oatmeal mouth jive, that would be one thing. For a new stadium, I say BS. Live with it. I played ball in an empty field and did just fine. The classrooms are the future, not a fancy new stadium.
I'm not going to get the point where I say "fool me three times".
I personally don't care where you played ball. Frankly the current field is a mess. Maybe I should not say the field but the stands, press box and restrooms are an embarrassment. The dust bowl parking lot is terrible. People complain about poor turnout at the games and the above reasons have something to do with it. It is time they do something. The high school should be top priority though. It is a dump!
Great idea. Build a new stadium so we can all have team spirit and a nice place for 100 people to park once a week while our state ranks near the bottom in education and the school are dumps.
What great priorities! Games over job skills. They can toss those hamburgers of the future 50 yards and be a success like Sic Vic. Heros on the field and thugs when the lights go out because we failed to put the priority on education and morals.
If the money was managed properly it might be ok, but I have absolutely no faith in our current board to manage my money. They have gotten money for years to maintain the facilities but they let them get in horrible shape. They have mismanaged almost to a criminal degree. We lose accreditation but let's keep them in there. They hold secret meetings but let's keep them in there. Besides that, let's give them more money.
Sports are great. They're entertaining and give us something to cheer for. That doesn't help Bubba learn how to read. How many of the seniors who WALKED during graduation were athletes?
8:17 you complained about the stadium. You narrowed it down to parking, seating, etc. But the field is in great shape. They can spend money on grass and water but not on seats.
What are the priorities? Education or sports? If you have an interest in your children then you should want to see them educated. They are not getting an education here.
Throwing money out every time they ask doesn't make for responsible leaders. Or educated students.
You may have played football in an open field; my daddy walked miles to school and back every day, too. What is your point?
PEOPLE!#1 The current BOE and Superintendent are not all the same members as those resposible for the loss of accreditation. #2 Student Athletes MUST PASS 5 out of 6 classes to be eligible to play sports. #3 NOT ONE student atlhete walked across the stage and received an actual diploma that didn't pass the GHSGT.#4 The average SAT score for the class of 2006 in LC was White students: 998, Black students: 773. Pike County: White students: 948, Black students: 784, Upson-Lee White students: 978, Black Students 808. On the GHSGT in LC for the same year: 139 students took the English portion, 7% failed, 34% passed and 59% pass plused. My point is that while we may not be scoring as well as the larger and more affluent metro Atlanta schools, we are on target with the schools in this area. LC can't fairly be compared to larger more affluent school districts where there is more money and less people quick to bitch about having to support the schools. If everyone here supported the school system like they do in Pike Co, Upson-Lee and Jackson, then perhaps we'd see great improvements. LC has a great new Superintendent, they are making strides in quality teacher recruitment and retention and they need the COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
Hey, my Dad walked five miles to and from school every day. It was up hill both ways. In three feet of snow.
The high school is a dump. It should be top priority!
Annual Reporting - Prior to December 31st of each year, the county and each municipality receiving SPLOST funds must publish a non-technical report in a local newspaper of general circulation that includes the following information on each approved project:
• The original estimated cost;
• The current estimated cost if different from the original estimated cost;
• The amounts expended in prior years; and
• The amounts expended in the current year.
Has anyone ever seen one? I haven’t.
While all counties are automatically eligible to receive SPLOST funds, a municipality must be a “qualified municipality” as defined in O.C.G.A. § 48-8-110 to be eligible.
Qualified Municipalities - To be “qualified,” a municipality must provide three of the following 12 services directly or by contract:
• Law enforcement
• Fire protection (which may be furnished by a volunteer fire force) and fire safety
• Road and street construction or maintenance
• Solid waste management
• Water supply or distribution or both
• Waste water treatment
• Storm water collection and disposal
• Electric or gas utility services
• Enforcement of building, housing, plumbing, and electrical codes and other similar codes
• Planning and zoning
• Recreational facilities
• Library
Appears the school system is not authorized SPLOST funds. I guess they must use another way or allow the county to own their project.
Authorized Projects - Although O.C.G.A. § 48-8-111 (a)(1) contains a list of specific types of projects which are eligible for SPLOST funding, counties and municipalities are not limited to that list and may fund any capital project so long as it is owned or operated by a county, qualified municipality or a local authority [O.C.G.A. § 48-8-111 (a)(1)(D)]. Essentially, this provision gives counties and municipalities complete discretion over the type of capital project selected.
Can SPLOST revenues be used to build local schools?
No. A separate Education SPLOST (ESPLOST) for school construction is available to boards of education. A school system’s one percent ESPLOST levy does not count against the county’s two percent local option sales tax cap.
Can SPLOST funds be used to construct projects for local charities or other non-profit organizations?
No. The gratuities clause of the Georgia Constitution bars local governments from using SPLOST or any other public funds to fund capital outlay projects for non-public entities. This restriction applies to for-profit organizations as well as not-for-profit organizations, including charitable organizations (although the General Assembly may authorize the expenditure of public funds to assist charitable organizations). Ga. Const.1983, art. IX, § II, par. VIII.
Of course we can continue to do as we please regardless of any laws.
G-Mac...
Thanks for standing up for the taxpayers and for the informed and the uninformed that choose to vent on this site. I hope you are successful in what you are trying to do with the Ag Authority fiasco.
I dont care how or where the school gets the money, but they need to get it. The High School needs a total renovation or better yet, they need to demolish it and build a new one.
If this money were being used for education, I would back it. A football stadium, no way. The fact that georgia high schools pay absurdly high salaries to football coaches is bad enough, but now they are going to take my tax money to build a football palace, at the same time they have a massive dropout rate and let people who cannot pass a graduation test that is about 8th grade level walk. I think not. Vote no!
I can not believe the school board would want to attempt entertain anything to do with a special purpose local option sales tax. But it will take the county to do it and it will have to be for a county project. Is the football field going to generate revenue for the tax paying citizens of Lamar County or for the school system? I’m guessing the latter.
It’s somewhat obvious that we are soon to be invaded by auditors from the Georgia State Department of Revenue regarding past SPLOST usage and, possibility a visit from the DCA too. I don’t expect the visit to be an overwhelming success. I have been told that improper use of grant money will have to be repaid with a penalty and that future grants will be nonexistent. I’m sure the misuse of SPLOST funds will be equally devastating to our county.
I will not vote for a SPLOST until it is utilized within the guidelines established for its use. Additionally, if the school board wishes to raise taxes again, our children may have the opportunity to witness a reenactment of the Boston Tea Party or a revolution.
I'd be willing to bet every one of the people who are opposed don't have children in the local school system.
It shouldn't make any difference about kids in school. Not having children in school does not give people with children in school the right to demand anything. So you say elderly people on a fixed income should pay more for something and be forced to do without something else so today's spolied kids will have a place to play football. I say you had them, you raise them, and you pay and be responsible for them. I did.
How about everyone with kids in school pay 150 dollars per child as a school users fee. They can pay it out over payments as the school year moves along. Since elderly have no kids in school and are usually on a fixed income, they can use their money for their needs and not yours.
anon 9:59....was it your child that didnt pass the test?
Maybe a new school would attract better teachers. I will vote yes.
I had much rather have a splost where everyone will pay their share when something is purchased in our county than a property tax increase which will happen if it doesn't pass. Every time one of you idiots purchase something in another county you contribute to that county's splost. Why don't you just sit your dumda$$es at home and not shop anywhere?
9:34 the splost is not to build a school. get educated on the subject before you start spending someone else's money.
10:06, you are the one that sounds like an idiot in your comment. are you really as dumb as you sound?
so many of you sound like s#^t for brains.
I am the product of a public school system. My child went to and graduatedfrom the Lamar County system. I believe the funding of public education is a responsibilty of the entire community, but the funding of a football stadium is little more than the wet dream of a bunch of jocks who want to relive their sorry lives vicariously and I'll be damned if I will pay for it.
Yes, you will pay for it one way or the other. Property tax or splost?
To annon 8:51. The school board will not have the nerve to raise property taxes to build a stadium. They are trying a SPLOST end run and hope to capitalize on fools like you who somehow think a sales tax is fair.
Calling people in favor of SPLOST fools is a little uncalled for. Sales tax is the most fair way to tax. I paid property tax in excess of $1,200 last year. My kids have been educated in the LC public school system since kindergarten, and all are athletes. Athletics are important to every school. However, for all you misinformed individuals, the school system budget does not fund athletics. Not one red cent of your property tax goes to fund athletics. Athletics are funded by Athletic Booster fundraisers, corporate donations, student athlete/parent contributions and gate sales. Honestly, how much could a penny sales tax hurt? If you want to get on your high horse about taxes, worry about your federal taxes funding the war in Iraq that is killing our kids and welfare aid to illegal ailens, insted of a penny sales tax that will help our LOCAL kids.
The school system budget cannot fund athletics but can they fund facilities such as a stadium?
People who say the taxpayer does not fund atheletics are misinformed. Taxpayers pay for the infastructure(read stadium) and salaries and a host of other things involving athletics.
As to Lamar county property owners whining about property taxes, get real. Our property taxes are so low that when I tell people what I pay here they just giggle and shake their heads. The sales tax is the most regressive tax possible.
PS> Bringing up the war in Iraq in relation to SPLOST...quite a stretch.
Sorry, no yes vote for me, when property taxes go down then I'll think about it.A splost fund is another taxation added to the taxes I'm already paying. Is it fair? No, those that have free rent, foodstamps, medical care, child care, after school care and free lunches will simply benefit further, they will pay zip-zero. Think about it people! Think about the wonderful splost that paid for the ag-center, have you benefited from it? Let's have a give the $$ back to the property owners splost.
We have a nice football field that needs some upgrading beginning with the bathrooms. We need to teach little Johnny to read, write and speak, the English language so he/she can become a contributing citizen. playing ball is a privilege, not a right. In addition let's not forget the other sports. Have a good day...
No, it isn't a stretch. Why cry about a penny sales tax, when your whining could be better spent crying about where your federal tax dollars go. I don't whine about my property tax. I have worked in Atlanta and its suburbs for many years and I do consider my property tax a "deal" when compared to the taxes paid elsewhere.
Yes, the school budget funds a coach's salary, as it should, because they all TEACH a subject during the school day. Their stippend for coaching is outrageously low and certainly does not compensate them for the amount of hours they put in coaching. Do not think that the Athletic Director's salary is indicitive of all the coaches salaries, because it isn't.
If you don't want your tax dollars to go toward stadium costs, why the heck are you so opposed to a sales tax?
I have been an advocate for years for a fee based athletic program for all athletes. And for most sports, you do pay to play. Cheerleading, for example, costs in excess of $1,000 per girl per year. This fee is paid in full by the parents through either fund raising or direct payment. There are fees associated with every sport that the parents have to pay. However; and this really should be obvious, the parents of this county cannot afford a fee high enough to fund a new stadium. I honestly don't know of a school system where parents could fund a new stadium on "fees" alone.
Go out and buy a new car and then find out how much that penny cost you.
Community involvement to obtain an education but not to play sports. If the school wants a stadium then the county could build it. All the monies collected for tickets and food stuffs will go back to the general fund. It could be managed by the rec department. The school would not own it unless they managed their budget and purchased it from the county.
Who's general fund are you talking about? The school has to have gate reciepts from football or most sports would not survive. Where would the county get the money?
I cannot support SPLOST for a Football field. Already we have one, that is the Booster Clubs would get off their dead rear ends, could make the stands and bathrooms better. That is Baloney.
The State Dept of Education would provide funding to rebuild the high school building. That would save alot of money for the Tax Payers. Why do these persons think throwing money at it, will correct the problems?
I have just looked at a blog for the first time. I went on because I heard a comment about what people were saying about the upcoming education SPLOST. Of 37 comments why was only one signed? If these were letters to the editor, they would not have been printed if the writer would not identify themselves. There were many postive comments...and I am hopeful that most of our citizens will see that this a good way to fund our schools facilities needs. Anne Claxton
It is very positive but some people will gripe about anything!
most of yall are so crooked and full of the bs that yall could sell the milk back to the cow
To Anne,
I'm happy you could respond by name.
I'll be the first to admit that SPLOST or ESPLOST or any sales type tax is the fair way levy tax. You made reference to "people were saying about the upcoming education SPLOST" Please explain the benefit to "education" by building a football field? Please explain how SPLOST can legally be used for this purpose.
The BOE just forced a big tax increase down the tax payers throats. Now they want to slip in the back door and ask for more $$ for something that has nothing to do with education. I think there is more here than meets the eye.
Do sports not teach kids anything?
Sports do teach, but they can do so at Summers Field. I think I smell a real rat. Summers Field will be given away and thenwe just have to build a stadium. You think?
To Those Voting for Splost: Voting for Splost is a voluntary vote for taxes. It is also a vote to take money from our elderly citizens who do not have children in school and from those who have chosen not to have their children indoctrinated in a secular school system. Why should we be forced to pay for a new football field. Our school board has plenty of money. Look at the salaries of the administration. It's so top heavy that the ship is sinking. Does anyone really think that a new football field is going to move these schools out of the bottom tier of schools in this state? I seriously doubt it. Study after study has indicated that more money never solves the problem of bottom ranked schools. If the county had kept all of the assets it gave to the City in the Ag authority deal, ie. valuable commercial property, then it could have sold it and paid for a new field without raising taxes.
blah blah blah blah
Oh goody, MORE taxes! I had all this extra money lying around and was wondering what to do with it.
Vote NO for any more money pit "educational" improvements.
Um... has anyone noticed there are NO plans for a new school yet we are having an influx of housing??
NO - ITS A BAD TIME FOR A SPLOST.
I DONT THINK ONE WILL BE APPROVED.
IT MIGHT BE CLOSE BUT WITH SO MUCH TALK OF WRONG ACTIONS BY OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS THE PEOPLE WILL NOT GIVE THEM MORE MONEY TO WASTE.
Post a Comment