Bibb superintendent 'cautiously optimistic' about sales tax vote

The Bibb County school district's ability to fund its next five years of planned capital improvement projects rests in the hands of voters, who will get to say yea or nay at the polls Nov. 3.

Bibb school Superintendent Curtis Jones said he's "cautiously optimistic" about the chances of passage for the 1-cent sales tax proposal, which is dedicated to education-related projects.

The E-SPLOST, if extended, is projected to provide about $180 million for a wish list of projects that includes a consolidation of Appling Middle and Northeast High schools to a shared campus, construction of an auditorium for each high school, a new elementary school, renovations to existing facilities, new school buses, safety and security improvements throughout the district, a campus police facility and capital projects for charter schools.

"There's a lot of good things in this SPLOST, buildingwise, but the largest one is the consolidation of the Northeast and Appling campus," said Jason Daniel, Bibb's executive director of capital programs.

Technology upgrades are at the top of the wish list, which would involve installing cameras, audio enhancement (a wireless microphone and speakers) and interactive white boards in all Bibb classrooms.

"That's the highest priority and will be the first item that's addressed if the SPLOST passes," Daniel said.

For those upgrades, the district wants to spend about $5,500 for each classroom.

The mere mention of "technology upgrades" might prompt a raised eyebrow from some voters, though, because of an audit of the school system under former Superintendent Romain Dallemand. It questioned almost $20 million in technology purchases from sales tax proceeds.

It's possible that recollection could influence some votes.

Arthur Brook is a longtime Macon resident who said he's voted for the education sales-tax in the past.

This time? "I'm going to vote for it, but I'm going to hold my nose," he said.

Jones said he understands why some voters might be wary of trusting the district.

"But my response has always been, 'This is a new board. I am a new superintendent. We're going to fund these things that we're talking about and we're going to be aboveboard with it.' I didn't come here to ruin my reputation by not doing that."

Daniel points to Jones' track record during his stint as superintendent of the Griffin-Spalding County school system, noting that "they did the same thing there (with technology upgrades)" thanks to the extra penny of sales tax on the dollar and had some "good results" with it.

District officials say they went to great lengths to legitimize the E-SPLOST process by holding community forums and conducting surveys.

What's more, the school system worked with the Georgia Department of Education to create a long-term facilities study on potential projects, which was validated by local facility directors.

"We want to make sure we're listening to the community, and I believe we have," Daniel said.

School officials have deemed the funds that the penny sales tax would generate "critically important," and it has drawn support from other members of the community, such as Mike Dyer, president of the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce.

In August, the chamber announced its full support of the proposed E-SPLOST.

"All the groups that I have spoken to and heard from recognize the need of continuing to fund the projects," Jones said. "I think they're excited about some of the items that are on the lists, like technology, air-conditioned gyms, auditoriums for all the high schools."

Without sales tax funding, those capital projects will get put on hold as the district tries to make do with its limited general fund.

Since 2000, there have been three education sales-tax initiatives that have brought in almost $500 million. That money has helped build more than 20 new schools, as well as fund dozens of renovations, facility improvements and additions.

The 2010-2015 sales tax initiative, which voters passed in November 2009, is expected to generate a total of about $159 million before it expires at the end of this year.

Daniel said, "It might be worthy to note, the sales tax revenue, about 70 percent is coming from outside of the county."

Macon, located at the Interstate 16/75 intersection, is a hub for retail spending, he said.

"This is just a good point (for people) to stop off and spend their money."

The school board approved the new E-SPLOST referendum in June. Early voting started Oct. 12 and continues through Oct. 30.

"Hopefully, on Nov. 3, we get a resounding yes because we listened and put it all in writing," Daniel said.

To contact writer David Schick, call 744-4382 or find him on Twitter@davidcschick.

This story was originally published October 18, 2015 at 11:11 PM with the headline "Bibb superintendent 'cautiously optimistic' about sales tax vote ."