MOULTRIE —
When voters begin casting ballots next week, in addition to picking a presidential challenger they will decide whether to approve sales tax funding for a new high school.
Early voting begins on Monday ahead of the March 6 Presidential Preference Primary. Voters can select a Democratic or Republican ballot, both of which also will include the education sales tax referendum. Or they can choose to vote only on the education special purpose local option sales tax question.
The resolution would authorize the Colquitt County School Board to extend the sales tax and issue bonds to raise revenue to expedite construction.
If approved by voters, the current sales tax would continue another five years from Oct. 1, 2013, and would raise an estimated $28 million.
The bulk of the money — an estimated $21 million — would go toward the board’s share of high school construction costs. Construction at Packer Park, where the school system already has some athletic facilities, could begin as early as October 2013 and would be completed about two years later.
The bulk of the Colquitt County High complex was built in 1979, with school officials saying that renovating the building would cost more local money and not fully address problems at the existing school.
“Building a new high school is something that happens every 40 or so years,” schools Superintendent Leonard McCoy said. “The vast majority of the high school is worn out.”
Prior to deciding on that course of action, it was determined that a new facility would be the better option, McCoy said.
“By those estimates, as a cost to local taxpayers a new school for 2,200 students can be built (for) about $5 million less than renovating the existing high school for 1,750,” he said. The state would provide “$10 million for that than for what they consider throwing good money at a bad project.”
The estimated costs includes tearing down all of the oldest part of the current CCHS. Wings added in 1995 and 2000 as well as Withers Auditorium would be preserved.
No final plan has been reached on how to use the space, but some ideas include administrative space and housing pre-kindergarten classes.
The tax would raise about $7 million more than would be needed for the new high school, and that would be used for technology improvements, transportation and Odom Elementary renovations.
“Odom school would be fully renovated to ensure Odom is up to the rest of the elementary schools,” McCoy said. “Technology money would bring classrooms up to 21st century standards and continue ensuring our students will be able to go to modern facilities that include modern technology.”
A 21-day early voting period begins Monday. Voters can cast ballots from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday in Room 133 of the Colquitt County Courthouse Annex. In addition, polls will be open on Saturday, Feb. 25, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Education
Related Photos
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This diagram from the Colquitt County School System depicts plans for the land at Packer Park, including a new, two-story high school. Colquitt County School System
Discussion
Tax would build new school
Voters begin deciding ESPLOST on Monday
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