Questions answered by Lamar Paris, County Commissioner
Q. Why are some SPLOST projects constructed/and or completed that were not specifically identified and voted on by the voters?
A. The SPLOST referendum is for the purpose of letting the public know what major projects are going to be funded by sales taxes. In addition, other "areas" of work are part of the ballot. For example, the school system vote usually includes "classroom renovation and expansion". It does not limit the school system to a certain classroom at a certain school and instead gives the leadership of the system the opportunity to make the best decisions needed as times go along.
Q. Are there other examples of SPLOST projects being completed that are not specifically identified?
A. Yes. This is similar to the county. We specify major projects and try to indentify as many specific projects as we can, but we also use the term, for example, "expansion, renovation and construction of recreation facilities". This allows the county to shift funding to special projects as the time and need comes along in recreation. Now with a 5 and 6 year SPLOST, and knowing that we begin at least two years prior to a vote deciding on projects, a lot can change in 7 or 8 years. The leadership of the county and school has the responsibility to make those decisions based on the current information they have available so that the money can be best spent to give the taxpayers the best value for their money.
Q. Why does Union County not build a new double gym with our SPLOST funds?
A. I have addressed this before, but as a reminder, it has to do with cost and need. While I wish we had a double gym and it would be so much easier for recreation dept. staff. We could host tournaments with such a facility, but the reality is that we have had to look at the need and cost. Currently we predominately utilize two gyms. They are the "old middle school gym"- (red gym) and the rubber floor gym, which also used to be a middle school gym. Both of these facilities belong to the school system and they have graciously allowed us to use them.
Q. Has the county been able to save money by working with the school system on joint use of facilities?
A. We sure have. Under our current SPLOST, we reworked the outside of the rubber floor gym, rehabbed the HVAC, increased the size of the parking lot and added the recreation office complex there for the convenience of the public. This was done at a fraction of the cost of a new gym.
Q. Wasn't the "old gym" listed on the SPLOST list to be renovated?
A. The "Old Middle School Gym" was on our SPLOST list. But because of shortfalls in sales tax revenues, some of the SPLOST projects had to be eliminated or postponed and this is one of those projects.
A few years ago, we really had a shortage of gyms in this community, but that has changed significantly over the past few years. The new high school has a gym and the new middle school includes a gym and as I said earlier, the rubber floor gym became available for recreation use. There is also a Primary School gym and an Elementary School gym. In addition, several churches in our county have added gyms to their programs. So while I still hope in a few years we can have a double gym, it simply does not make economic sense to do it now when alternate facilities are available at a considerable savings to the taxpayers.
Q. Is the Old Middle School Gym (red gym) in repairable condition?
A. It was a few years ago when we first examined it, but it is in much worse condition now and will require a reevaluation, which we are beginning now in conjunction with the school system. Basically, the cooperation with our school system on not only our gyms, but ball fields and other facilities is one reason that Union County government and school property tax rates remain so low.