In response to recent letters to the editor regarding the spending habits of the Colquitt County School System and property tax levied to fund the system.

In his January 24, 2020 letter, Mr. Bruce Leigh referenced the Thomas Tire bid from a previous letter to the editor as evidence that the Board of Education is wasting money. I quote Mr. Leigh from his letter, “Aren’t we wasting tax money?” We are most definitely not wasting tax money with our current tire bid and vendor. The Southeastern Commercial Tire Bid is a much better deal for our system for the following reasons.

The system buys tires and sells surplus tires. Southeastern provides a complete package. They deliver and rack the tires purchased and pick up the surplus tires. We do not have to touch the tires. In the past, we were picking up the new tires we had purchased and stacked the surplus tires to be sold. Thomas indeed bid a Marathon Tire that was $305 per tire; however, the higher grade tire we had been purchasing from Thomas Tire in prior years, the Endurance tire, was bid at $328 per tire. The Firestone tire that the transportation department chose was $314.41 per tire. It is also true that the Goodyear tire had 1/32 more tread, but equally important to the amount of tread is the number of miles and durability of the tire per 1/32 tread. The transportation department reports that the new Firestone tire is performing better than previous tires.

Southeastern is paying the Board of Education $65 per surplus tire, a $20 increase per tire over the previous year. Southeastern delivers new tires directly to the bus shop and picks up the surplus tires that they are going to buy. Thomas Tire does not purchase surplus tires. Combining the services is an overall cost savings to the school system and our taxpayers, and in addition, it cuts down on time away from the shop and on time staff spends handling tires, which is also a significant cost savings to the school system. We have received excellent service from Southeastern Tire and the Firestone tire is performing well according to our transportation department.

We do make every attempt to shop locally, but we are also obligated to find the best value for the system and taxpayer. The best value should always include top-notch and professional service. It is important to note that there were years when Thomas Tire was not the low bidder; however, they received the business. Why? Because at the time, the system determined their bid to be the best overall value for the School System and the taxpayer, just like the current bid from Southeastern Tire.

Mr. Leigh indicated that the Board of Education wasted money on the most recent ESPLOST.  He listed several projects that were built with the current ESPLOST, namely the indoor practice facility, another field, coaches’ offices, and nutrition facilities for the football team. I can only assume that one other area Mr. Leigh referenced is the new track with a football and soccer field on the infield.

Again, he asked the question, “Are we wasting tax money?” Let me say again that we, the Colquitt County Board of Education, are not wasting tax dollars. The voters approved the current ESPLOST and all aspects of it and they entrusted us to spend that money wisely, which I feel like we do.  Mr. Leigh is accurate in his list of the above but failed to mention the following.  The Board of Education members, along with the items named above, also approved the expansion of the high school to include four self-contained special education classrooms, which are part of the complex that houses the offices mentioned. The ESPLOST that was approved by voters also included a complete refurbishing of Doerun and Odom Elementary Schools. These two schools received a new kitchen and cafeteria, which was much needed. Odom also received a new gymnasium. Technology was also a part of the current ESPLOST approved by voters, which benefits all students system-wide.

As to the question of who should pay property taxes to fund schools, we all contribute to many services that may not benefit us directly, but they contribute to the overall quality of our community. If you attended public school, taxpayers were supporting your education, who did not have children enrolled in school. Even if you do not have a child in school, you still benefit from a quality public school system as it plays a vital role in economic development, industry recruitment and retention, and quality healthcare systems.

The Board of Education is acutely aware that the money we use to operate is the result of the hard work of our citizens. We will continue to make every effort to ensure that we are good stewards of the budget, and we are continually seeking ways to use our funds in the most cost-effective way.

Doug Howell

Superintendent

Colquitt County School System