Monday, September 11, 2023–11:03 p.m.
-David Crowder, WRGA News-
It was a split vote, but the Rome City Commission has approved agreements with the Rome City School System and the Rome Building Authority regarding the issuance of no more than $120 million in bonds to fund the construction of a new Rome Middle School.
Commissioners Jim Bojo, Jamie Doss, Craig McDaniel, and Randy Quick voted “no” while Commissioners Bonny Askew, Elaina Beeman, Mark Cochran, and Bill Collins voted “yes” with Mayor Sundai Stevenson casting the fifth affirmative vote to break the 4-4 tie.
The $120 million figure takes into account the $103 million dollars the city is backing, along with $17 million in capital outlay funding from the state. The term is for 20 years.
Although he could not give an exact number until the bonds are priced, Bill Camp with Raymond James estimated that the interest could be in the neighborhood of $48 million.
$54 million was included for a new middle school in the special purpose local option sales tax for education approved by voters last year.
It is estimated it could take three additional ELOSTs to pay back the bonds. If a future ELOST fails, it would likely mean a millage rate increase for city property owners, and that’s why Commissioner McDaniel said he voted “no.”
“I think it handcuffs the citizens of the City of Rome,” he said. “I don’t think it’s fair. It puts the city commission in a bad position because we look like the bad guys. We look like people who don’t support the school system and nothing could be further from the truth. I just think it is not prudent financially to put this burden on the taxpayers of the City of Rome.”
McDaniel said he would vote in favor of a $70 million bond issue.
Commissioners Quick also expressed concerns about the price tag.
“It’s very difficult to explain to taxpayers and justify $120 million when our neighbors in Bartow County did it for $48 million, ”Quick said, referring to the new Cartersville Elementary School.
Commissioner Doss explained that he was struggling with the expense of a $25 million sports complex for a middle school.
“I’m almost struggling with the fact that we are going to be paying $50 million in interest over the next 20 years,” he added.
Commissioners Beeman and Askew spoke in favor of the resolution.
“Is it fair to our children?” she asked. “We build brand new houses and say this is Rome and we want them to love where they live. Yet, we still want to pack them in a $70 million school and put trailers out there.
“We can spend $22 million for a new police but we can’t spend $100 million for education,” Askew said. “I think that is a sad state of affairs for this city.”
According to Commissioner Collins, some of the studies that were done showed more than 20 years to pay for the school.
“These people [the school board] want the best,” he said.
Commissioner Cochran said he struggled with the decision and explained his vote to approve.
“I think it revolves around listening to the people who voted for the ELOST and listening to the voters who voted in the board of education we currently have,” he said. “We shouldn’t even be in this discussion.”
The Rome City School Board will vote on the agreements during their meeting Tuesday.
The next step is to petition Floyd Superior Court to validate the bonds. After the bonds are validated and priced a supplemental bond resolution will go to the Rome City Commission for final approval on October 23.