Revived bill seeks to level ESPLOST talks

Published 7:17 pm Wednesday, March 22, 2017

ATLANTA – Lawmakers have reversed course on a plan to change how local school boards handle tax increase requests. 

The proposal, sponsored by Sen. Ellis Black, R-Valdosta, overwhelmingly failed just last week. 

But Rep. Randy Nix, R-LaGrange, used a procedural maneuver to bring the measure back. This time, it barely mustered the 120 votes needs for the two-thirds majority needed for a constitutional amendment. The vote was 128 to 44. 

The issue, which has already cleared the Senate, would go on the 2018 ballot. 

Areas where there is both a city and county school board must both agree before a 1 percent sales tax increase, known as an ESPLOST, can go on the local ballot. 

Lawmakers said this arrangement has allowed some smaller city systems to withhold their support until the county agrees to give the city system its desired share of the tax proceeds. 

The proposal would give the county the authority to go to voters with a tax increase request, with or without the city system’s support. 

If the districts cannot agree on how best to divvy up the money, the revenue would be distributed based on student population.  

Nix said the change gives way to a fairer arrangement for the 20 communities that have independent school districts. 

Others still didn’t see it that way. 

Rep. Trey Kelley, R-Cedartown, said the change would compromise a smaller district’s ability to negotiate. 

“There’s nothing more unfair than taxation without representation, and that’s what this bill does,” he said, adding that lawmakers were “invading local control.” 

Jill Nolin covers the Georgia Statehouse for CNHI’s newspapers and websites. Reach her at jnolin@cnhi.com.