What is SPLOST?
SPLOST stands for Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. It is a one-cent tax on all consumer goods that must be approved by voters in a referendum. SPLOST receipts can be used only for schoolrelated capital improvements. The current SPLOST in Cobb County expires Dec. 31, 2008.
What would SPLOST III accomplish?
School buildings continue to have maintenance, technology and safety needs. The first 10 years of SPLOST focused on building new schools and classrooms to address overcrowded conditions that resulted from rapid population growth in Cobb over the last few decades. Population growth in Cobb has slowed recently. That’s why SPLOST III, if approved, would add some new classrooms, but is mostly focused on revitalizing existing school buildings – even replacing some of the oldest buildings – to address maintenance needs that have developed. More than one third of Cobb school buildings are older than 40 years. Even newer school buildings need new paint, new flooring, and other revitalization – the result of the wear and tear that occurs from hundreds or thousands of students moving throughout the buildings day after day. In addition, most technology – such as desktop computers – typically has a lifespan of about five years and must be replaced. District-wide, that amounts to about 35,000 computers.
What do property taxes fund in the school district?
About 90 percent of the district’s operating budget, which is supported by state funding and local property taxes, goes to pay the salaries of teachers, administrators, bus drivers, food service employees, custodians, and other staff. The other 10 percent pays for items such as textbooks and supplies, as well as utilities such as fuel, natural gas, electricity and water. State funding and local property taxes do not provide substantial funds for regular building maintenance, or for technology enhancements. Prior to SPLOST, the district issued bonds that had to be paid back over several years with interest by property taxpayers.
For more information, visit this site: http://www.cobbk12.org/SPLOST/
Awtrey, Barber, Palmer, Acworth, Baker, Big Shanty, Chalker, Frey, Kennesaw, Lewis, McCall, Pitner http://www.cobbk12.org/SPLOST/splost3_northcobb.pdf