CALL FOR SPECIAL ELECTION
TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE JONES COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on the 21st day of March, 2023 an election will be held at the regular polling places in all the election districts of Jones County, at which time there will be submitted to the qualified voters of Jones County for their determination the following question:
| ( ) YES
( ) NO | Shall the special 1 percent sales and use tax for education currently in effect in Jones County be continued for a period of time not to exceed 20 calendar quarters and for the raising of not more than $23,000,000 for the purposes of acquiring, constructing, repairing, improving, renovating, adding-to, extending, upgrading, furnishing, and/or equipping school buildings, athletic and/or support facilities, and/or infrastructure in the Jones County School District useful or desirable in connection therewith, including acquiring any necessary property therefore, both real and personal, including, but not limited to (1) renovating, adding-to, furnishing, and/or equipping Dames Ferry Elementary School, adding a greenhouse and other renovations to Clifton Ridge and Gray Station, renovations for the greenhouse at Jones County High School and adding additional instructional units for classroom and lab space; (2) renovating, adding-to, and equipping Old Gray Elementary School to centralize support facilities, central office facilities, and Pre-K; (3) acquiring equipment for the physical education, athletic, and/or music departments, including band equipment, acquiring a new JROTC facility and air rifle range, library and/or HVAC renovations; (4) acquiring textbooks and technology, safety, security, and/or fire protection equipment; (5) demolition, site work, and/or renovations to existing school sites and facilities; (6) acquiring buses, vehicles, and/or transportation equipment; (collectively, the “Projects”); and/or (7) paying capitalized interest, costs of issuing the below described Bonds, debt service on the Bonds, and/or paying expenses incident to accomplishing the foregoing?
If continuation of the tax is approved by the voters, such vote shall also constitute approval of the issuance of general obligation debt of the Jones County School District in the principal amount of up to $8,000,000, repayable from the proceeds of the aforesaid sales and use tax, for the purpose of funding such portions of the above projects as may be acquired, constructed, and equipped with the proceeds of general obligation debt. |
All qualified voters desiring to vote in favor of continuing the one percent (1%) sales and use tax for education (the “Sales Tax for Education”) shall vote “Yes” and all qualified voters opposed to levying the Sales Tax for Education shall vote “No”. If more than one-half of the votes cast are in favor of continuing the Sales Tax for Education then the Sales Tax for Education shall be continued beginning April 1, 2024 or the first day of the calendar quarter immediately following the quarter in which the Sales Tax for Education now in effect is terminated. The maximum period of time for which the Sales Tax for Education shall be re-imposed shall be twenty consecutive calendar quarters.
The maximum cost of the capital outlay projects for educational purposes described in the above ballot question to be funded with Sales Tax for Education proceeds, including interest, capitalized interest, principal, and costs of issuance on the general obligation debt to be incurred, shall be $23,000,000. To the extent available, the Jones County School District may combine available funds from any state or federal governmental source to which the Jones County School District may be entitled to pay the costs of its capital outlay projects, and it may choose what capital outlay projects to undertake or not undertake or to delay until additional funding is available to the extent that the proceeds of the Sales Tax for Education and general obligation debt are insufficient to complete any of the capital outlay projects.
Plans and specifications for the capital outlay projects described in the above ballot question have not been initiated and bids have not been received. Depending upon acquisition and construction costs and available funds, the Jones County Board of Education may add to, modify, or delete specific projects.
If the Sales Tax for Education is to be reimposed, the Jones County School District may issue general obligation debt in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $8,000,000. The proceeds from such general obligation debt, if issued, shall be used to fund all or a portion of the above described capital outlay projects. The maximum rate or rates of interest on such debt shall not exceed seven percent (7.00%) per annum and the maximum amount of principal to be paid in each year during the life of the debt shall be as follows:
|
Year | Principal
Amount |
| 2025 | $1,450,000 |
| 2026 | 1,525,000 |
| 2027 | 1,600,000 |
| 2028 | 1,675,000 |
| 2029 | 1,750,000 |
The School District may issue general obligation debt in an aggregate amount that is less than $8,000,000 and reduce the principal amounts maturing that are shown above. The debt shall be repayable from the proceeds of the Sales Tax for Education. The debt may be issued in one or more series, and on one or more dates of issuance as the School District may approve; provided, however, that the aggregate principal amount of such debt shall not exceed $8,000,000. The debt may be made subject to redemption prior to maturity, to the extent permitted by law, upon terms and conditions to be determined by the School District.
The principal and interest on the Debt shall be secured by the proceeds of the sales and use tax and shall be payable in lawful money of the United States of America at a paying agent bank that will be designated by the Jones County School District prior to the issuance of the debt.
Any brochures, listings or other advertisements issued by the Jones County School District or by any other person, firm, corporation or association with the knowledge and consent of the Jones County School District shall be deemed to be a statement of intention of the Jones County School District concerning the use of the proceeds of the debt.
The several places for holding said election shall be at the regular and established voting precincts of the election districts of Jones County, Georgia, and the polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on the date fixed for the election.
The last day to register to vote in this election shall be February 20, 2023 through 5:00 p.m.
Those residents of Jones County qualified to vote at such election shall be determined in all respects in accordance with the election laws of the State of Georgia.
This notice is given pursuant to a resolution of the Jones County Board of Education of and a resolution of the Jones County Board of Elections and Registration.
/s/ Ginger Bailey
Chair, Board of Education
of Jones County, Georgia
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up