Sales tax promise haunts officials

A multimillion-dollar deal to appease members of a west Augusta community in 2006 has become a contentious issue for Richmond County school officials.

In the fall of 2006, school board members were finalizing their $230 million list of sales tax projects when they yielded to community pressure, promising not to consolidate Garrett and National Hills elementary schools, which are less than half a mile apart.

Board members sweetened the list of special purpose local option sales tax projects by setting aside $15.3 million for the two schools, a way of ensuring their support of the penny sales tax. The move was similar to other projects included in the sales tax meant to spread revenue throughout the community and lure voters to the polls in support of the tax.

But with the demolition of Garrett Elementary School a few weeks away and a new $10 million school set to replace it, some school board members are questioning whether it's still practical to honor that promise.

When the issue was brought up in 2006, board attorney Pete Fletcher advised school board members that the SPLOST project list could change, but only if priorities change. Some board members say that's the case.

"It doesn't make sense to build a $10 million school when you're not going to have the students," board member Joe Scott said.

In October 2006, around the time when the board made the concession, Garrett had 257 pupils and National Hills had 236. Since then, the schools have grown slightly. Garrett now has 274 and National Hills has 246, but if the two west Augusta schools are consolidated the new school would still be smaller than some existing Richmond County elementary schools, some of which have more than 600 children.

"We for the first time have portables at our tiny little school," said Leslie Olig, a National Hills parent and soon to be the media specialist there and at Garrett.

Since last May, the school system has been undergoing "rightsizing," the process of determining the best use of facilities and closing them if necessary. The latest proposal is to merge Milledge and Lamar elementary schools on the campus of Milledge and eventually close Lamar, a school of 258 children with a declining enrollment that fell sharply after the closing of the Gilbert Manor housing project a year ago.

Mr. Scott, though, said there should be consideration given to closing either Garrett or National Hills also. To not consider it would be "wrong sizing," he said.

Board member Barbara Pulliam agreed and said conditions have changed since 2006.

"If the other two schools can combine, then these two can, too," Mrs. Pulliam said.

But board member Helen Minchew said Tuesday that the board should honor its word to the community or else harm its chances in asking for another sales tax.

Mrs. Olig also wants the promise honored. She said she understands the desire to consolidate schools, but she also sees the benefits of keeping them separate.

"I think there is a great savings in the long run in students," Mrs. Olig said, talking about studies that show children from small schools tend to graduate at a higher rate.

Reach Greg Gelpi at (706) 828-3851 or greg.gelpi@augustachronicle.com.