Catoosa Vision

ESPLOST & Bonds

Kudos to the Catoosa School Board for approving a resolution for needed investment in our schools. The resolution, which will be up for general vote on September 6, 2005, does two things: First, it would extend the current 1% ESPLOST for five more years. Second, it allow for issuance of bonds to pay for the immediate construction of two new schools, among other projects.

First and foremost: THIS IS NOT A NEW TAX.

Second: THIS DOES NOT RAISE TAXES.

Third, and as I understand it, the purpose of the ESPLOST extension is to PAY OFF THE BONDS.

I suppose the big question is whether or not we need new schools in Catoosa County. Sure, new housing starts have been ... err... aggressive in recent years. People want to move to our community for many reasons, including our school system. Going forward, perhaps we can do a better job managing growth. But for now, the kids are here and we have to find a way to educate them properly. Unless we want the kids to be sitting on the floor in the overcrowded cafeteria to eat their lunches, or being crammed into a classroom with teachers facing a 40-to-1 student:teacher ratio, we have to invest in our school system now.

Is there waste in the current system? Sure. No question. Is there enough waste to justify not making further investement in the system. No way!

Kids are our future. The kind of future we create through the education of our future leaders (i.e. the kids) is in our hands right now.

Also, good schools are directly related to the kinds of industry/business we can attract and retain in our community. Businesses pay lots of taxes and don't take much in return. Households offer the opposite scenario. Bad, overcrowded schools mean that businesses will not want to locate in Catoosa.

Come September 6th, we as a community need to send the message that we value our future generations enough to invest in their future today. When the times comes, vote YES for this important resolution.

posted by Chris Casey @ 4:12 PM