We’ve heard plenty about “SPLOST fatigue,” and to be sure, it seems like one SPLOST referendum is scarcely finished before another is being ballyhooed. Yes, the state Legislature is considering (although our understanding is it won’t pass this year) a bill allowing for “split penny SPLOSTS” that would reduce the number and frequency of SPLOST referendums. But that reform will not come soon enough to avoid the need for Tuesday’s vote.
In addition, the state has cut deeply into school funding during the Great Recession. The Cobb system has lost a cumulative $353 million from the state since 2003 and the Marietta system nearly $27 million. And partly as a result the Cobb system is looking at an $80 million budget shortfall for FY ’14.
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TAX INCREASES are a tough sell in the current political and economic environment. But this is a not a tax increase. Rather, it’s a continuation of an existing tax. Moreover, it’s a tax that local residents in their wisdom have passed three times before, and which has paid untold dividends for the two local systems. Those earlier SPLOSTs have paid for construction of 22 schools, 2,372 classrooms, hundreds of maintenance projects, eliminated 550 “portable classrooms” (i.e. trailers) and purchased more than 46,000 computers to replace older computers.
Of equal or even greater importance, those earlier SPLOSTs have left the Cobb system debt-free and have the Marietta system poised to also be debt free. What that means is that revenue from earlier SPLOSTs was used to pay off $184 million in Cobb bond debt and $53.8 million in Marietta bond debt, leaving the Cobb system (and hopefully soon the Marietta system) able to pay cash rather than borrow money for capital improvements. It means that local taxpayers will see all of the revenue from the SPLOST go toward its intended uses, rather than seeing millions diverted to bankers and bond attorneys. Even in an era of historically low interest rates, being debt-free is paying off in spades for local taxpayers. And it will save them even more once the economy turns around and interest rates start heading north once again.
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IF PASSED, SPLOST IV will be levied for five years and bring in a projected $717.8 million for the county school system and $55.4 million for the Marietta School System.
In light of Cobb’s geographic position astride three interstate highways and the status of its malls as “destination shopping,” it’s reasonable to expect a disproportionate share of the tax would be paid by non-county residents.
Unlike last summer’s failed transportation SPLOST that was deceptively marketed and would have resulted in barely perceptible congestion relief had it passed, the Ed-SPLOST the county will be voting on will have easily measurable benefits. Earlier SPLOSTs were geared toward building schools to keep up with the explosive growth of the 1990s and early 2000s. SPLOST III and now SPLOST IV are focused more on renovating school facilities of earlier decades to extend their usefulness and give them more vitality.
Replacements would be built for Walton and Osborne high schools and an as-yet undetermined middle school and two elementary schools. A high-school career academy would be built too. After all, not every student is cut out for college — and frankly, we all know plumbers and mechanics and so forth who never lack for work; and students with college degrees who can’t seem to find a job.
Among the plans the Marietta system has for its SPLOST revenues would be wiping out the remaining $3 million in bond debt for the construction of the new theater at Marietta High School; paying off all the system’s remaining bonded indebtedness; and $5 million in upgrades to historic Northcutt Stadium, where the Marietta High Blue Devils play their home games.
The SPLOST would also help the two systems pay for new textbooks, school buses, security fences and surveillance cameras. (State law prohibits SPLOST funds from being used for salaries.) And SPLOST revenues would be used to keep the computers and related infrastructure current. As Marietta Superintendent Dr. Emily Lembeck put it, “Classroom computers used to be a ‘want,’ then they were a frill, but now they’re an expectation in the minds of students and parents.”
The list of projects to be funded by the SPLOST is not perfect; but then such lists never are. And this one is close enough to warrant your vote.
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RAISING PROPERTY TAXES to fund local education is not a choice, because the county is already just a whisker under the 20-mill cap set by the state. So voters have three options.
• They can reject the SPLOST, meaning that most if not all current and future improvements would have to be paid for by issuing bonds (and seeing a big chunk of the bond revenue stay with the bankers).
• They can do nothing — that is reject the SPLOST and also reject future bond referendums, and see the school systems quickly erode and drag local property values down with them.
• Or they can vote “Yes” for the SPLOST on March 19.
The best option is obvious — and we strongly encourage you to vote Yes.
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If majority of City of Marietta voters give this sales tax the thumbs down, but the votes from the rest of the County tip it to "Yes" overall, aren't non-city residents establishing a tax within the city limits where they do not live and controlling the City of Marietta educational system in which non-residents should have no control whatsoever?
Or more likely, if Liberal Marietta votes Yes for Taxes, while Tea Party Cobb votes No, but Marietta's Yes votes tip the balance (along with the other cities) to Yes overall, haven't the City Liberals required a tax to be levied county wide, affecting schools in unincorporated Cobb where these City Liberals do not live?Pull back the sheets on this vote too,
Roger Hines! Where are you in our time of need? You are a big supporter of constitutional issues (so you claimed, anyway)! Are you writing up your lawsuit paperwork right now?
1.) Reasonable SPLOST list
2.) Sales Tax instead of property tax
3.) No Bond interest to pay
4.) Everyone pays sales tax
Why are they spending millions of dollars for theaters, and building schools that look like corporate headquarters of fortune 500 companies.
They took woodworking, metal working and other craft related classes away years ago and now want to build a $30 million school to teach it. Why not just let the kids enroll in the vo-tech school for those classes??????
I voted no due to the arrogant attitude of the BOE and the idiots at Glover Street who make these bad decisions.
It's not for the kids! The project list is for political special interest rather than educating children.
Over 50 new class rooms, but no money for teachers. New athletic facilities but no instructional benefit for the children.
A huge money pit is the "Career Academy". $30 Million allocated for a yet to be determined building, that will never be built. The land, staff, teachers, maintenance, all to be funded from additional future taxes.
The estimated $773 million dollars could be better spent for things that will truly improve your children's education.
Keep that 1% in your wallet, buy your child the book the ESPLOST will not.
VOTE NO
In a few months from now, or sooner, we will begin to hear rumblings from the legislature and the various county governments about tax increases, regardless of what happens with SPLOST. Then you will find yourself with both.
The chamber wants this to pass because it will bring construction jobs to Cobb. If it were really for educating our youth they would be screaming about funding for the classrooms...not building more.
Everyone benefits if we have a county of educated citizens. I appreciate the support of all seniors, childless residents, and residents whose own children are in private schools. Good facilities are part of a good education.
This vote is for facility school maintenance and improvements. By law, teacher salaries cannot be funded with Ed-SPLOST. It is for capital expenditures that the state refuses to sufficiently fund.
Imagine the alternative.
Will businesses choose to locate in a community that doesn't support it's schools? NO and there goes your economic and job growth.
Ask any Realtor what they understand is the most important criteria for a prospective homeowner and they will tell you it is "schools."
Applaud the business community for their support!
Waste is having the use our operational budget (the way we pay teachers) to fund capital projects. Meaning fewer teachers and larger classes.
Voting no is a WASTE.
I applaude this endorsement!
I am not sure how I am voting right now. I see what the schools have done with SPLOSTS in the past. At times, they have changed what they have listed in the notebooks, overspent or quietly added projects. The CCSD board cannot seem to manage money at times. Yes, the state cut funds but that means that you cut spending as well and I have not seen that as the case. Someone on another blog keeps saying its for the teachers and the children and that's true, but they will survive. The boards will find a way to continue the excellence that occurs everyday. If the SPLOST failing makes everything fall to pot, it wasn't as strong as we thought to begin with.
How will new buses, textbooks, technology upgrades, HVAC and roof replacements be paid for if SPLOST fails? Drum roll .............. Out of the OPERATIONS Budget.
This means less dollars allocated for teacher salaries resulting in larger classrooms, fewer teachers and the likelihood of more furlough days.
The school district has come to believe that they can continue SPLOST and throw in the Education title and people will vote for it. The author is right, this is continuing a tax not an increase. The county voted to raise this tax in the 80's and has kept it. I am offering everyone a tax break by voting No.
Furthermore, voting No on Tuesday doesn't mean you are voting no forever. Tell the school board that if they can come up with a better proposal then the slop they are handing us to write it up and put it up for a vote in November.
How is it that 9 new schools were built in West Cobb? - SPLOST
How is it that Clarkdale, East Side and Mableton elementary received new schools and Smyrna is set to receive a new school? - SPLOST
How is it that much needed renovations are taking place at Wheeler and Harrison? - SPLOST
How is it that the district has removed 90% of the trailers? - SPLOST
How will the district continue to address capital needs absent capital funding? - From the operations budget.
In a cavalier manner, you've discredited Cobb voters who have consistently supported the SPLOST project lists.
Fact Check - Don't know where you do your research... Ed-SPLOST has been in effect in Cobb since 1996, not the 80's. It's also resulted in the district being debt free which is a great thing.
What is or are your solution(s) to addressing the long-term capital needs of the district?
Be mindful that capital expenses addressed with current operations revenue will result in significant operations cuts elsewhere (ie. by most estimates, salaries & benefits is roughly 90% of the budget).
Specifics appreciated!
To sum it up, if you are not a person that believes that splost is beneficial to teachers and students, then vote for it for your financial well being. Even if you no longer have children it directly effects you. It is a proven fact that good schools means more money indirectly in our pocket over the long haul.
Perhaps you didn't read Laurel's comment fully enough, so I'll re-post that part for you..
"Furthermore, voting No on Tuesday doesn't mean you are voting no forever. Tell the school board that if they can come up with a better proposal then the slop they are handing us to write it up and put it up for a vote in November."
Additionally, when we build these new theaters and other facilities, the operations and maintenance won't be paid for by the SPLOST - it will be paid for out of the general budget. I'd like to hear your ideas of how we're going to pay to operate them without furloughing teachers? Why build something you can't pay to operate and maintain?
As Laurel said, come back to us with a better project list that focuses on education - not sports and recreation.
1. Cobb County residents over 62 do not have to pay property taxes. No other surburban county does this. I would grandfather in all residents that are curently over 62 and require all residents in the future to pay their property taxes, and this is coming from a fiscally conserviative person. We cannot continue to function every year with millions of dollars worth of deficits. That would be a huge step in solving our finacial problems.
2. Running the new facilties will cost no more than running older facilties . Matter of fact it will more likely cost less, because the older facilties need constant upkeep. Most of the older schools in the county cannot even have assembles with the whole student body because the gymnasiums are not big enough. The new schools you can.Was is wrong to build such large facilities at the new schools built over the last 10 Years that could house the students?
In closing I am just a person that believes that the school is the focal point of the community. Building a functioning facility that serves the needs of the students and community does nothing but enhance our county. I believe in the real rounded student and that a education entails more than the classroom. No offense to science, but I have exercised a lot more in my adult life than I have dissected a frog. Go up to any school in the county and you will see the gym, theater, track, stadium, baseball, softball field and classrooms being used at all hours by people in the community. That in my opinion, is my tax dollars being well spent!