NEWTON COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM FACTS FOR SPLOST:
1. The priorities of the SPLOST are debt service property tax relief, school security, school technology, school maintenance, and student transportation. Buildings or additions may be built only on an as needed basis resulting from growth in enrollment and availability of state funding to help offset the cost.

2. The school system Maintenance and Operations millage rate is currently maxed out at 20 mils. The school system cannot legally raise this rate. The tax digest has declined by almost 34% since 2008. This has resulted in a loss of revenues for the school system in the amount of more than $19,000,000. The school system has responded by cutting more than $26,000,000 from its General Fund Budget while facing pressure from millions of dollars in increased expenses such as employee health insurance and retirement benefits, textbooks, fuel and utilities, and the expansion of the Theme School and the opening of the Newton College and Career Academy.

3. Since 2008 the school system has been able to purchase technology, maintain buildings, and purchase school buses and payoff school bus leases in the amount of approximately $6,700,000 from SPLOST funds. Without SPLOST, these purchases and payments would have had to come from the General Fund Budget or simply not be made.

4. The Debt Service (school bond) millage rate is currently 1.9 mils. Bonds were issued with voter approval to build Flint Hill Elementary, Newton College and Career Academy, and the replacement Newton High School. The SPLOST will provide $30,000,000 in school bond property tax relief for property owners in Newton County resulting in the elimination of the Debt Service property tax for the five year period of the SPLOST. At the same time, there will be no increase in sales taxes as a SPLOST is currently in effect until December 31, 2014. The school system cannot issue bonds without voter approval and can only issue them for capital expenditures. The school system cannot issue bonds or use SPLOST funds for operating expenses such as salaries, benefits, textbooks, utilities, and fuel.

5. SPLOST PROJECTS (total actual projects dependent upon tax collections):

Debt Service Tax Relief	$30,000,000
School Security-purchase of Viewpath S.A.F.E. camera, audio, and silent alarm system for every classroom at every school	$3,850,000
School Technology-computers and printers, infrastructure upgrades, interactive equipment and software for all schools	$17,000,000
School Maintenance-system-wide roofing, paving, electrical upgrades and HVAC renovations	$11,300,000
Student Transportation-approximately 75 school buses and other bus maintenance equipment	$9,600,000
Begin construction of a replacement high school or make additions to current buildings dependent upon enrollment growth and state funding	$3,250,000

On September 18, 2007, Newton County residents passed the school system’s $110 million Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) and general obligation bond referenda for schools.

By approving the SPLOST Referendum Newton County residents approved the continuation of the existing one-penny sales tax that was set to expire on December 31, 2009. These revenues will be used primarily to construct three new elementary schools, a new middle school, an addition to Alcovy High School; to make improvements at existing schools and Sharp Stadium; to improve technology; to purchase buses and to reduce the district’s general obligation principal indebtedness. This sales tax is limited to 60 months of collections or until a set amount of revenue has been received, whichever comes first.

The passage of the General Obligation Bonds referenda will provide the school system revenues to be used primarily to construct a new high school, complete the new middle school, and make additions/improvements to existing schools. This General Obligation Bond indebtedness is scheduled to be paid by a continuation of the current one mill for debt service after it is scheduled to expire in 2016.

The growth in our county is well documented. It was reported that from 2000-2006 Newton County was the 4th fastest growing county in Georgia and the 11th fastest growing county in the nation. We have continually grown by more than 1,000 students each year. At this rate of growth, more than 25,000 students are projected to be enrolled in our schools by 2013, the anticipated completion date of the proposed construction and improvements.

The proceeds from the SPLOST and GO Bond Referenda will be used for the following projects:

• Three new elementary schools.
• One new middle school.
• One new high school.
• An addition to Alcovy High School.
• Band/ROTC addition to Eastside High School.
• Renovations at existing schools, including Newton High School.
• Improvements to Sharp Stadium and possible construction of a second stadium.
• Improved technology throughout the school system.
• Payment for existing school buses which were acquired through bus purchase financing as well as future bus acquisitions.
• Payment towards existing bond indebtedness in order to maintain the current low rate of one mill for debt service.