It isn’t often citizens have so much at stake in directing Georgia’s future on transportation and education. Now we have such an opportunity with the proposed transportation sales tax and Georgia charter school reform. Residents should become knowledgeable about both issues in preparation for upcoming votes.
First for consideration is the regional transportation referendum, sometimes called "T-SPLOST," up for vote on July 31. The referendum seeks a 10-year, 1 percent sales tax to pay for over $6 billion in regional transportation projects including roads, bridges, buses, rail, trails and airports.
Months ago, city and county representatives formed a roundtable to develop an extensive projects list that can be found at www.atlantaregionalroundtable.com. The metro Atlanta referendum will ask voters in Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale counties whether to raise the sales tax for transportation projects in those counties. Eleven other regions in the state will have their own referendums.
You may walk away from transportation referendum research a little confused like I was but there are informative tools on ajc.com and the Regional Roundtable Web site.
Many politicians have put their careers on the line with their involvement on the roundtable, so questions should be directed to representatives.
In November, state voters face another big decision regarding Georgia’s charter schools, tax-funded schools offering some special educational emphasis. This is a big issue now in the North Fulton and Cherokee County areas, where two charter schools, Fulton Science Academy Middle School and Cherokee Charter Academy, were denied by their local boards.
Fulton Science Academy was found by the Fulton Board of Education to be in violation and lost its charter. Cherokee Charter Academy was denied a charter by its local board, with some members questioning its relevance and cost. Supporters of the charters rallied and turned to the state for help.
State legislators listened, and recently Governor Nathan Deal arrived in Cherokee County to sign into law House Bill 797, which promises state assistance in funding charter schools. This funding is contingent on the passage of House Resolution 1162, the Georgia Charter School Amendment that Georgia voters will decide in November.
How to vote on HR 1162 is a difficult decision for me. I believe in equal access to educational excellence for all students, not just charter school kids. If I lived in an area with poor schools and an unresponsive system, however, I would hope for help from a higher authority.
HR 1162 seems mostly about whether Georgia’s county boards of education should have ultimate control over their county schools, or whether the state should have authority. I suggest going to www1.legis.ga.gov to decide yourself if HR 1162 is fit for approval.
Get the knowledge you need for both these important issues and remember to vote.
Veronica Buckman has been a resident of Milton for nine years. Reach her at vrbuck01@aol.com.
