Let’s Keep the Taxes

© Dr.Gary D. Lemmons, August 20, 2006

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My out of state readers will have to excuse the colloquialism of this week’s column as it applies primarily to Gordon County.  However, the underlying point does apply to any location where a local referendum for the imposition of taxes is allowed by law.

On September 19, the citizens of Gordon County will be called upon to express, in the form of a referendum, their approval or disapproval of the extension of the current one cent “special local option sales tax” (SPLOST) for capital improvements in our public school systems.  If approved, the current one cent tax would remain in effect for another five years.

I should explain that we have two school systems in our community.  The majority of students attend the Gordon County Public Schools.  However, students living within the City of Calhoun have the choice of attending the Calhoun City Public School, one of the few independent municipal city school systems remaining in Georgia.  Under the current and propose tax plan, Gordon County would receive two-thirds and Calhoun City would receive one-third of the revenue proceeds.

While I am a believer that citizens should keep government “poor,” in this instance, I favor the extension of the tax and here is why:

1. The Gordon County and Calhoun City boards of education, together with their respective administrations, have exhibited good stewardship of the monies generated by this tax over the past five years.  Appropriate construction of schools, renovations, and other capital improvements have been made in a logical and well thought-out manner.  In general, they have shown considerably “good sense.”
2. Both school systems have a logically and well-designed plan for the use of the funds that will be generated by an extension of the tax.  This plan should insure that neither school system will become unable to handle the expected growth and expansion that is surly coming ton our community.
3. Inasmuch as the money is needed and tax revenue is the way to raise it, the use of the SPLOST is the one sure way to be inclusive.  Everyone (criminal or outstanding citizen, worker or bum, local resident or traveling sojourner, legal or illegal alien), who makes purchases, pays the tax.  No one is exempt.  All contribute.  I like that.

Let’s keep the SPLOST for our schools!