Multimillion-dollar makeover to football field in Forsyth draws concerns, school responds

The Dan Pitts Stadium in Monroe County is slated to receive a $17.5 million makeover by next school year.

The Monroe County Board of Education approved the final bond pricing agreement for the school district’s fieldhouse and stadium renovations project on Tuesday, following a unanimous decision last week by the Monroe County Public Facilities Authority to issue the district nearly $17 million in revenue bonds for stadium renovations.

Updates will include visitor restroom renovations, visitor bleachers, concessions, press box improvements, construction of a new plaza, parking lot improvements, field lighting, landscaping and more, according to a post the facility authorities made last week.

Bleachers for the stadium have been ordered, and surveyors are now at 50% completion on the project’s construction drawings, school official shared at last week’s regular board meeting.

The developing project is only 10% complete, and it will be funded by an Education Special Local Sales Tax, commonly referred to as an ESPLOST.

Some locals praised the multimillion-dollar project, citing it as a vital enhancement for the Mary Persons High School Bulldogs, while others expressed concern on social media about its effect on property taxes and not having a say in the voting process to fund the project.

“Can’t have another middle school for all kids but sure can get a loan for fixing up a stadium that only a small percentage of kids use. Don’t forget when the repairs go over budget, which they always do, they automatically get more money. 17 mil is a ridiculous number,” Monroe County resident Anthony White commented.

Monroe County Schools Superintendent Jim Finch said in an email that the public actually did have a say in the process. The public approved an ESPLOST referendum in November 2022, with a 67% passing rate, he said.

“The stadium project was included in the referendum,” Finch said. ”It was a continuation of an existing ESPLOST, so it did not raise taxes.”

ESPLOST is a one-cent tax used by school systems to fund public education initiatives such as building renovations, acquiring property for future schools, and improving fieldhouses and stadiums.

County leaders planned in 2022 to use the ESPLOST funds to raise up to $39.5 million over the span of five years.

Board Chair Stuart Pippin noted Tuesday that voters in Monroe County are typically in favor of ESPLOST-funded projects.

Monroe County Schools will be responsible for all payments on the approved bonds, and the maximum interest rate on the bonds is 5.5% with the bonds maturing no later than Aug. 1, 2039, according to the finance authorities.

The school district is using Raymond James Inc., a financial services firm, to assist with the project’s funding.

The motion to approve the final bond pricing resolution for the fieldhouse and stadium renovations passed with five votes in favor, one opposed and one abstaining.

Pippin abstained from the voting process, noting that he wanted to remain transparent about his current job position at United Bank.

United Bank was one of the investors who purchased bonds, Finch said.

School officials expect that the fieldhouse and stadium renovations will be completed by August 2025.

The Monroe County Public Facilities Authority is a governing body made up of the five members of the Monroe County Board of Commissioners.