All of funds won't go to schools
By Dwight Otwell Editor

The county commissioners aren't willing to dedicate all of the Medicaid relief funds, that will amount to at least half million dollars this year, to school construction.

The Cherokee County School Board and the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners met yesterday morning (Tuesday) to discuss school facility needs.

School Board Chairman Dr. David Ackerman asked the commissioners to dedicate all of the funds for school construction.

"The lottery (proceeds) are insufficient for school construction," said School Board member Dr. Brian Mitchell. There is no prospect for a state school bond referendum to give us relief."

Mitchell asked that Medicaid relief for the county and proceeds from a quarter cent sales tax or a land transfer tax go to meet the $36 million in school construction needs.

"We are excited about a significant and continuous revenue stream for our school construction. We ask you to place high priority on the schools," Mitchell said.

County Commissioner David Sumpter said the Medicaid funds will whet the appetite of other county agencies for additional funds.

"It is inappropriate to dedicate (the entire amount" to the schools," Sumpter said. "It would be a mistake to do that."

"That is my feeling," County Commission Chairman Jonathan Dickey said.

"There are a lot of other county needs but nothing is more pressing than schools," said County Commissioner Dana Jones.

Jones suggested a committee to study long range planning. He said he wants to see only two Cherokee County high schools, a west and an east school.

"I'd like to see the feasibility of a bond referendum to pay for it," he said. "It wouldn't hurt to consolidate one or two campuses.

Ackerman said the school board feels that community based schools are important to maintain, at least for grades K-5 or K-8. Also, public input would be important if school infrastructure is changed, he said.

Ackerman told the county commissioners that the school system is seeking an outside firm to do some long-range

planning, to assess

demographics and what the school system needs - to come up with a master plan for schools.

"Our board is open to changes for grades 8-12," he said.

School Administrator Terelle Beaver said a long range plan by a company is about nine months out as it would be five months before the firm could start on the plan and four months to complete it.

Jones said he wants to include recreational facilities in a county-wide bond referendum.

Board member Paula Watson asked the commissioners if they are willing to go along with a onefourth cent sales tax or a land transfer tax that the state legislature approved to raise money.

County Manager David Badger said both can be put on a referendum and if both pass, the board of commissioners would choose which of the two they could implement. Both aren't allowed to be implemented. Badger said it would cost $20,000 for a special referendum in November, since there aren't any other elections. He said it would be best to have a referendum on the taxes in May.

Watson asked the county commissioners to designate all of the proceeds from either tax to school construction. Jones said if the land transfer tax passes, he would like the proceeds to be used for schools, recreation and other needs. If the quarter cent tax passes, he would like it to be used just for schools.

Ackerman asked the commissioners to help them with some immediate projects, a roof for Murphy High School and a seven-room addition and bathrooms at Ranger School.

Beaver noted that the 65,000 square foot roof is estimated to cost $1.5 million and the county got $1.37 million in QZAB funds, which have a negative interest. The commissioners will consider paying the cost of the roof project and being paid back later from QZAB funds.

"The roof and Ranger addition, I have no objective to moving forward on those projects," Sumpter said.

School officials said they will appear at Monday's county commission meeting to ask that funds from lottery proceeds go for the Ranger school addition.