The Fayette County school board voted Monday to add a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax to the ballot for the upcoming November elections.

The vote was expected, but the meeting was hardly lacking in drama.

The tax issue sparked heated words between board members Janet Smola and Bob Todd prior to passing 3-0-1. Smola joined chairwoman Terri Smith and Lee Wright in forwarding the measure to county voters. Todd abstained, saying the board had rushed into the decision. Board member Marion Key was out of town and did not vote.

"I think abstaining is unfair to the rest of us," Smola said. "I think hundreds of hours have gone into this."

Todd took exception to subsequent comments Smola attributed to him, angrily pointing his finger at her while saying, "Don't accuse me, lady."

Todd, a landlord, had earlier said Smola was wrong in asserting that apartment dwellers didn't pay property taxes and do their share in support of county schools.

County voters will decide whether they want the 1 percent special tax that school officials estimate could generate as much as $115 million over the next five years while lowering property taxes. If approved, the tax would take effect April 1.

Fayette County voters rejected similar sales tax initiatives in 1998 and 1999, but passed education bonds in 2001 and 2004.

Citing reduced state funding and the downturn in local and state economies, school officials have warned of drastic systemwide cuts should voters reject the sales tax this time, including the elimination of as many as 261 jobs.

The proposed cuts would shave nearly $11.9 million from the budget.

The board approved the 2009 fiscal year budget of $197 million in late June.