12/19/14
(Cleveland)- The White County Board of Education has approved a resolution that sets forth the process for a vote by the citizen to continue the education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, to provide funds for capitol project within the school system. The approval vote came Thursday night after financial adviser Tom Owens, with Raymond James presented an overview of past and current SPLOST projects.
The current SPLOST runs through 2017 and the new SPLOST, if approved by the voters, would run from 2018 through 2022 and could raise up to $24-million dollars. Superintendent Dr. Jeff Wilson said it will enable the school system move forward without putting an extra burden on property owners. He said, “ it provides for maintenance and operation of our schools, it does not pay for salaries, it can not pay for any salaries, but if we did not have that penny it would certainly increase property taxes here in White County.”
A good portion of the funds raised will be used to construct a new Ninth Grade Academy and gym, next to the current high school.
Board of Education Chair Kendyl Brock Hunter, “ we’ve got to let the votes know, this is not an additional tax it’s just a continuation of the tax we have right now. “
The resolution calls for a special referendum to be held March 17th next year.
