Whitfield, Dalton expected to vote on $98 million ESPLOST in March

Published 12:44 pm Wednesday, January 4, 2017

DALTON, Ga. — Dalton and Whitfield County residents are expected to have the opportunity to vote on whether to approve a new five-year Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) in a little less than three months.

The members of the Whitfield County Board of Education voted unanimously Tuesday to put the 1 percent tax on the ballot during a special election on March 21. The Dalton Board of Education, which must also approve the measure, is scheduled to vote on it at its next meeting on Monday.

The tax would be expected to raise some $98 million, with Whitfield County Schools receiving $61 million and Dalton Public Schools $37 million, a split based on each system’s share of total enrollment.

“This is something we have been working on and talking about for a long time,” said Whitfield County Board of Education Chairman Bill Worley.

Whitfield County Schools’ top priorities for its share of the ESPLOST are replacing North Whitfield Middle School and Valley Point Middle School, which were built as high schools, with two new schools that would be built on the same campuses. Officials say it makes more economic sense to build new schools that will last 50 or 60 years than to make patches that will have to be updated in 10 or 15 years, especially since the school system can get state funding to offset part of the cost for new construction.

Dalton Public Schools’ top priority is “adding to, renovating, repairing, improving, equipping and furnishing existing school buildings or other buildings or facilities useful or desirable in connection therewith, including, but not limited to Brookwood School, City Park School, Roan School and Dalton High School.”

The current five-year ESPLOST expires on Dec. 31 of this year and is expected to collect $81 million. The new ESPLOST, if approved by voters, would begin on Jan. 1, 2018.

The ballot measure would also authorize Whitfield County Schools to issue up to $41 million in bonds that would be paid back from proceeds from the ESPLOST. Superintendent Judy Gilreath said that would allow the school system to move forward with projects funded by the ESPLOST.

“There would be legal steps we would have to go through, but we should be able to start work within six months of the ESPLOST being approved,” she said.

The board also approved personnel recommendations from the superintendent, including naming Brian Satterfield principal of New Hope Middle School. He replaces Stephen E. Vess, who resigned.

Board members re-elected Worley chairman and Louis Fordham vice chairman.