The Cobb County Board of Education voted 6-1 Thursday to increase the new Ed-SPLOST V budget from $759 million to $797,022,000 by $38 million.
Also, the board members voted 7-0 to approve the Ed-SPLOST V project list.
This vote means extra funding will go to undesignated classrooms - only after all of the projects are completed on the new list that would take effect 2019 to 2023.
That also is contingent upon the vote of Cobb residents on the March 21 referendum - the same day when Marietta voters will decide on their Ed-SPLOST renewal of $62,486,000.
With the current Ed-SPLOST IV, no money is available for undesignated classrooms in Cobb.
The lone opposition came from board member Randy Scamihorn, stating the lower $759 million - as recommended by the staff - would mean a possible reduction in the millage rate to taxpayers if all of the $759 million is collected by 2023.
“My responsibility is to build seats for kids. Every time we build a school, they are already overcrowded. I am not hurting taxpayers. It’s not a slush fund,” said School Board Chair Susan Thayer.
“I have no doubt that your heart is in the right place,” Scamihorn replied. “West Cobb is actually going to decrease, not grow, in the next five to 10 years.”
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