Published March 16, 2006

Voters go to polls Tuesday to decide on extending school sales tax

With very little build up or public comment, voting may be light on Tuesday's ballot to extend the schools' one penny sales tax for another five years, according to election officials.
As of Monday afternoon, fewer than 25 absentee and advanced voting ballots had been cast.
Advanced voting will continue through this Friday. There will be no balloting Monday, March 20.
On Tuesday, March 21, all normal polling locations will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
No other races or decisions are on the ballot Tuesday.
If the upcoming vote is affirmative, the school system is projecting they could receive $30 million to spend on building projects over the next five years.
The school board has not listed any definite plans for the money, but under Georgia law it can only be used to fund capital construction or renovation projects.
Superintendent Mike Ballew said, as things stand now, no new campuses will be needed. Ballew said student growth could accelerate, but for now the school board is projecting no new campuses for construction during the next seven years.
Both previous sales tax referendums centered around new elementary schools.
Something Superintendent Ballew said would be a top priority are payments on bonds that funded construction of Pickens High School. Ballew said those payments would total more than $4 million during the next five years. If not funded through the SPLOST, revenue from property taxes will have to cover the pay back, Ballew said.
Other items mentioned as possible candidates for funding with SPLOST sales tax revenue are:
* A fine arts building for Pickens High School.
* New kitchen for Jasper Elementary School. The current kitchen was built in 1957.
* A new gym for Jasper Elementary.
* Tate Elementary maintenance, including a new roof.
* At Pickens Middle School, an upgrade to the athletic field.
* New air conditioners and buses.