The superintendents of the three school systems in Jackson County used the Feb. 2 chamber of commerce meeting to plug the March 15 referendum on extending the education special purpose local option sales tax (E-SPLOST).
The tax proposal is written in a way that the schools could divvy up as much as $100 million — although it is generally anticipated that five years of the tax would generate far less than that amount.
“A significant portion of that will be used to retire debt,” noted Commerce superintendent James E. “Mac” McCoy. “97 percent by Commerce, 47 percent by Jackson County and 85 percent by Jefferson.”
McCoy added that money generated by the tax could also be used to buy technology, repair or replace heating and air conditioning system, to buy buses or make facility improvements.
McCoy also pointed out that enrollment in the three school systems had increased by 3,700 students since 2001.
“It has slowed a little over the last couple of years, but we are still growing,” he said.
Shannon Adams, county school superintendent, made the point that the referendum is not for an additional tax or a new tax, but for a continuation of the current tax.
The revenue, he said, will be divided among the school systems according to enrollment. Were the tax to yield the full $100 million, the county system would collect about $62 million, Jefferson $24 million and Commerce $12 million.
Jackson County citizens have paid the one-cent E-SPLOST tax since 1997, Adams pointed out.
John Jackson, Jefferson superintendent, explained how his system would use the money and reminded his audience that the tax must pass countywide to be approved.
Jefferson voters will not only cast ballots for the sales tax, but also for a general obligation bond of $17.8 million.
The Jefferson system plans to build classrooms, a kitchen and a cafeteria at its elementary school, and a new gym, classrooms and kitchen at Jefferson High School.
“Jefferson Elementary School was constructed in 1957. We feed children there from 10:30 in the morning until 1:30 in the afternoon,” said Jackson. “The kitchen at Jefferson High School is the smallest in the system and feeds the most children. The gym at the high school opened in 1950 to an enrollment of about 150 – now we have 800 in that building.”
According to Jackson, passage of the March 15 referendum would enable the Jefferson system to make all of those improvements without increasing its property tax rate for bonds.
“We do not anticipate any changes to our millage rates whatsoever,” he said.
Chamber president Shane Short weighed in on the issue as well.
“From an economic development point of view, I can tell you that if we don’t have quality schools, you won’t have quality economic development in your community.”
