Elbert County Sun reported 8/28/2008:
“Where requests for mill levy overrides have been turned down for being too broad and non-specific in the past, the school board has this time specified its needs and is committing to spend 86 percent of the mill levy override on raising salaries to a competitive level; 10 percent to provide students with additional curriculum and instruction…and 4 percent to upgrade technology and computer applications[.]”
Ballot text:
- “86% will be used for retaining and attracting high quality teachers, counselors and support staff.”(not a word about “salaries” or “raising” them)
- “10% will be used for providing students with the curriculum and instruction necessary for success in college and the workplace; and” (not a word about “additional” curriculum and instruction)
- “4% will be used for upgrading technology and computer applications to promote student success in the 21st century[.]”
The Ballot text will control the C-1 Board’s future spending discretion. Expressions of intent do not control. While binding terms were used to describe how the board would direct future spending of the mil levy funds, those key binding terms were omitted from the ballot language. 96% of the future spending discretion of the mil levy funds will be controlled by ballot language that is vague, arguable, and easily corrupted.
Time after time, the directors of Elbert County taxpayer-funded public agencies thumb their noses at the governed. Until this pattern changes, they should not be rewarded for their hubris.