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Conservative approach keeps ELOST on track
Published July 29, 2009
WALTON COUNTY — Despite the economic conditions which have plagued local tax collections, Walton County Public Schools officials feel they can still accomplish all they need to with the current Education Local Option Sales Tax.
“We have been guarded and conservative with the ELOST funds,” said Harry Lee, budget and finance director for WCPS. “Despite the conditions, we feel good and expect to have everything started we said we were going to.”
The current ELOST, the system’s third which was approved by voters in 2007, has collected $10.8 million since funds first started rolling in from the state in March 2008. Collections have seen ups and downs in the first half of 2009 — from a low of $496,979 in April to a high of $773,070 in February, setting both the low and high mark for collections in the 16 months of collections. But by comparison, collections are off $227,484 when compared to the March, April and June collections of 2008.
A change in the way the state disperses ELOST funds, making funds available one month instead of two months after collection, does not allow for a side-by-side comparison for May.
WCPS officials said oftentimes with special tax collections the target dollar amount exceeds expectations because once a target amount is reached, collections must stop. The previous ELOST had a target amount of $40 million, with $38.4 million collected. This current ELOST, set to run out Dec. 31, 2012, has set the target amount at $80 million, with $10.8 million collected through June. Lee expects collections will fall about $10 million short of the goal, but said they have items to cut.
Some cuts have already taken place, with cuts made to technology projects and by not purchasing as many buses as planned. There is always hope additional funds will come in, but officials said some items can be pushed to another ELOST if needed.
Current ELOST projects include the expansions at Walnut Grove and Bay Creek elementary schools, projects wrapping up and should be completed before the end of the year. County officials are also using funds to pay their annual premium on the Rutland Building, a regional facility for students with special needs in Athens. Plans also call for land procurement and the building of a new transportation facility, as well as a new middle and elementary school. Plans for the transportation department have been altered. Instead of using a new building the department has moved into the old Walker Park Elementary School. This move has saved money and the project is currently being done in phases as funding allows. With more than two years left, WCPS officials are moving start and completion dates around as needed for the projects.
“We are closely managing a five-year cash flow each month,” Lee said. “We can look back and look ahead, look at the high priority items and delay when some projects get off the ground.”
The county is receiving some state funding to aid with the school expansions and new buildings, though not for the transportation department project.
There are still some outstanding funds from the 2003-2007 ELOST. County officials have indicated the last project — the new Blaine Street Elementary School — is funded and is their next formal priority, with the goal to break ground before the end of the year.
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