For Immediate Release

March 7, 2007
Contact: Rosemary Taylor, 678.223.8828

City of Johns Creek supports one-cent SPLOST III tax for schools

The Johns Creek City Council has approved a resolution in support of extending the one-cent Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) for the funding of capital improvement projects in Fulton County schools.

"Schools are the backbone of our community and keeping them strong benefits our entire city. SPLOST has actually helped to lower our property taxes," said City Council Member Liz Hausmann. "The cost of school construction does not rest solely on Fulton County property taxpayers with SPLOST."

The SPLOST III one-cent sales tax will be voted on in a March 20 referendum and if approved will be collected for the next five years to pay for capital improvements, such as additional classroom space and technology, allowing for general funds to be used on class instruction.

SPLOST III funds would go to make capital improvements at each elementary, middle and high school in Johns Creek, but major projects include: building a new $60+ million high school; adding 16,800 square feet of classroom space at Chattahoochee High; and adding 23,600 square feet of classroom space at Barnwell ES.

SPLOST was first implemented in Georgia schools in 1997 and then was extended in 2002. Over the last 10 years, almost $1 billion in revenue has been raised, with an estimated 40 percent coming from people who live outside of Fulton County.

Locally, SPLOST I and SPLOST II built Abbotts Hill ES, Findley Oaks ES, Ocee ES, Wilson Creek ES, Autrey Mill MS, River Trail MS and Northview HS, and made additions to Dolvin ES and Taylor Road MS.

"In a nutshell, SPLOST is fiscally responsible. It's a tax for a finite period of time and the funds must be spent on the items listed in the referendum," said Hausmann.

According to Fulton County Schools more than 20,000 new students were enrolled in the past 10 years, and an additional 19,000 students are expected by 2012. The Fulton County Board of Education reviewed all options for handling overcrowding, preparing for state mandated class-size reduction and financing other capital needs. The School Board chose to call for a one-cent sales tax vote March 20 to extend SPLOST.

For more information, visit www.fultonschools.org.

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The City of Johns Creek incorporated officially Dec. 1, 2006. The establishment of the City was approved in a voter referendum July 18, 2006. For more information, visit the City of Johns Creek Web site at www.johnscreekga.gov.