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School
board should put county
on different cycle for SPLOST vote
By
Elliott Brack
editor and publisher
GwinnettForum.com
NOV. 9, 2001 - - The 600,000 residents of Gwinnett owe a debt
of gratitude to the 34,448 persons (5.74 per cent) who took the
time to vote on Tuesday. This small, civic minded group of citizens
happily carried the day. After all, 79 per cent of them, almost
a 4-1 margin, decided how Gwinnett's expanding school construction
would be financed, through the continuation of a one per cent sales
tax for education.
So here's a big cheer to the 4.69 per cent (5.74x.79) of Gwinnettians
who rule the roost, so to speak, on this important matter.
Those of us thinking that perhaps the events of Sept. 11 would
cause a larger segment of the residents to show their patriotism
and vote....well, that bubble was burst. When only 13.58 per cent
of the eligible voters actually turn out to vote, that's a sorry
state of affairs. Again. In good times and in bad times, few people
today take the Constitutional privilege of voting seriously.
The good part is that the small minority at least voted intelligently
on this important matter. The reason we were at the mercy of the
voting minority is because of the Gwinnett School Board.
But Gwinnett need not to be faced with the possibility of the menace
of the minority, if we can get the School Board to think on a different
calendar.
Instead of putting the school construction proposal before the
citizens when a minority will decide the question, the School Board
needs to ensure that the matter comes up not at a Special Election,
but in a General Election.
Up until now, the School Board has opted to suggest the one per
cent sales tax for schools on a five-year plan. That's the maximum
amount of time a special purpose, local option sales tax (SPLOST)
can be imposed. Furthermore, the five year plan coincides with the
planning period for the county.
There's only one thing wrong with this five year proposal: it means
that every other SPLOST vote, Gwinnett will be before the voters
on an off-year elections cycle. That translates into having the
vote in a Special, not General, Election. That also means that the
measure will be decided by a minority of voters in meager turnouts.
So this begs the question: is it worth it having the SPLOST vote
on a five year plan, instead of a four year plan, in order to coincide
with planning purposes, and be faced with minority decisions every
other year?
Or is it better to shift the SPLOST to a four year cycle and be
assured by the General Election's larger turnout?
Gwinnett will be best served by casting its lot with a larger turnout.
As Lincoln said over and over: "Trust the people. Always trust
the people." That minority turnout could eventually get the
School Board in trouble. After all, if a vocal minority marshaled
forces, they could come closer to overturning a meager turnout than
they could a General Election outpouring of voters.
Five year from now, when Gwinnett School Board will probably be
faced with a SPLOST question again, we strongly suggest that the
School Board put the next SPLOST on a four year cycle, and keep
it there. It'll mean the Board could breathe easier about each SPLOST
outcome, since it would be decided by a larger number of voters.
That way, of course, the School Board, like Lincoln, would be trusting
the people. Nothing wrong with that!
FEEDBACK:
11/9: Lots of Gwinettians
wanting shade trees
Editor, the Forum:
Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful has been overwhelmed by the community's
support for NeighborWoods! It seems everyone wants to plant these
trees to benefit their homes and neighborhoods. Though we gave away
all 750 trees we ordered for the November 3 delivery, we have another
750 trees coming in on January 26, 2001.
These will again be Red Maples, Shuard Oaks and Willow Oaks. There
is a waiting list of neighborhoods wanting to be considered for
the January 26 delivery. We are gratified that so many people recognize
the environmental and economic benefit of trees.
Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful will continue this program as long
as we can get the funding to buy the trees. We hope to create more
street tree canopy and cool Gwinnett's neighborhoods, while reducing
storm water runoff, increasing the value of homes and improving
air quality. Funds for the three came through grant from the state
of Georgia and Gov. Roy Barnes.
- - Heather Leo, GC&B, Lawrenceville.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Suggests Carter best person to administer aid dollars
(Editor's Note: this short letter appeared on
October 30, 2001 in the New York Times.--eeb)
"Distribution of the billion-odd dollars contributed for World
Trade Center victims is a mind-boggling job, fit for a Solomon.
For a politics-free, beyond-reproach administrator, I strongly suggest
that former President Jimmy Carter be appointed to this position.
"Here is a man of proven integrity and efficiency in providing
help to humanity for many years. I am certain that if given the
proper authority, he would assemble a top-notch staff to expedite
this money promptly to the proper recipients. Let the authorities
act now to ensure that the victims are compensated as soon as possible,
when the aid is most needed."
- - Mark Heyman, Hackensack, N.J.
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