CALL FOR ELECTION TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF WHITFIELD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND CITY OF DALTON SCHOOL DISTRICT: AN ELECTION IS HEREBY CALLED on the 21st day of March, 2017, to be held at the regular polling places in all the election districts of the Whitfield County School District (the "Whitfield School District) and the City of Dalton, Georgia, which comprises the City of Dalton School District, at which time there will be submitted to the qualified voters of Whitfield County for their determination the question of whether a special one percent sales and use tax shall continue to be imposed on all sales and uses in Whitfield County for a period of time not to exceed five years (20 calendar quarters) commencing upon the expiration of the existing sales and use tax previously imposed, such tax to be at the rate of one (l) percent as authorized by the Constitution of Georgia, Art. VIII, Sec, VI, Para. IV, and as further demonstrated and implemented by Article 3 of Chapter 8 of Title 48 of Official Code of Georgia Annotated, to raise not more than $98,000,000 for the following purposes: For the Whitfield County School District: (i) acquiring new technology equipment, safety and security equipment and other school equipment, and upgrading and modifying technology equipment, including software, hardware, network and infrastructure; (ii) adding to, renovating, repairing, improving, equipping and furnishing existing school buildings or other buildings or facilities useful or desirable in connection therewith, including but not limited to HVAC, electrical, plumbing, paving, roof replacements and repairs, restroom renovations, paint and flooring, energy efficient lighting retrofits, sewer system tie-ins, and constructing, renovating and modifying athletic facilities, and including but not limited to demolishing and replacing Valley Point Middle School and North Whitfield Middle School with new school facilities, demolishing and replacing the gymnasium at Westside Middle School, and constructing a car rider loop at Tunnel Hill Elementary School; (iii) acquiring land; (iv) purchasing textbooks and band instruments; (v) purchasing school buses and service vehicles; and (vi) acquiring any property necessary or desirable therefor, both real and personal (the "Whitfield School Projects"), the estimated cost of the Whitfield School Projects to be paid with sales tax proceeds being $61,083,000; and (vii) payment of any general obligation debt of the Whitfield County School District issued in conjunction with the imposition of the sales and use tax; For the City of Dalton School District: (a) adding to, renovating, repairing, improving, equipping and furnishing existing school buildings or other buildings or facilities useful or desirable in connection therewith, including, but not limited to, Brookwood School, City Park School, Roan School and Dalton High School; (b) acquiring land, c) acquiring new technology, safety and security equipment and other school equipment; (d) acquiring, constructing and equipping new school buildings and facilities, including but not limited to educational/athletic facilities and; (e) acquiring any property necessary or desirable therefor, both real and personal (the "Dalton School Projects"), the estimated cost of the Dalton School Projects to be financed with sales tax proceeds being $36,917,000; and If the continuation of the tax is approved by the voters of Whitfield County School District, such vote shall also constitute approval of the issuance of general obligation debt of Whitfield County School District (the County Debt) in the principal amount of $41,000,000 for the purposes of the Whitfield County School District described in items (i) - (vi) above and for the purpose of payment of a portion of the interest on such debt. Said County Debt, if so authorized, shall be at such interest rate or rates not exceeding 5.0% per annum in any year, with the principal of said County Debt to mature (or be subject to mandatory sinking fund redemption) in the years and amounts as follows: Year Amount 2019 $7,690,000 2020 7,730,000 2021 8,110,000 2022 8,520,000 2023 8,950,000 The ballots to be used at such election shall have written or printed thereon substantially the following: Yes ___________No Shall a special one percent sales and use tax continue to be imposed, subject to the approval by a majority of the qualified voters residing within the limits of Whitfield County for a period of time not to exceed five years (20 calendar quarter) commencing upon the expiration of the existing sales and use tax previously imposed, for the raising of not more than $98,000,000 for the following purposes: For the Whitfield County School District: (i) acquiring new technology equipment, safety and security equipment and other school equipment, and upgrading and modifying technology equipment, including software, hardware, network and infrastructure; (ii) adding to, renovating, repairing, improving, equipping and furnishing existing school buildings or other buildings or facilities useful or desirable in connection therewith, including but not limited to HVAC, electrical, plumbing, paving, roof replacements and repairs, restroom renovations, paint and flooring, energy efficient lighting retrofits, sewer system tie-ins, and constructing, renovating and modifying athletic facilities, and including but not limited to demolishing and replacing Valley Point Middle School and North Whitfield Middle School with new school facilities, demolishing and replacing the gymnasium at Westside Middle School, and constructing a car rider loop at Tunnel Hill Elementary School; (iii) acquiring land; (iv) purchasing textbooks and band instruments; (v) purchasing school buses and service vehicles; and (vi) acquiring any property necessary or desirable therefor, both real and personal (the "Whitfield School Projects"), the estimated cost of the Whitfield School Projects to be paid with sales tax proceeds being $61,083,000; and (vii) payment of any general obligation debt of the Whitfield County School District issued in conjunction with the imposition of the sales and use tax; For the City of Dalton School District: (a) adding to, renovating, repairing, improving, equipping and furnishing existing school buildings or other buildings or facilities useful or desirable in connection therewith, including, but not limited to, Brookwood School, City Park School, Roan School and Dalton High School; (b) acquiring land, c) acquiring new technology, safety and security equipment and other school equipment; (d) acquiring, constructing and equipping new school buildings and facilities including but not limited to educational/athletic facilities; and (e) acquiring any property necessary or desirable therefor, both real and personal (the "Dalton School Projects"), the estimated cost of the Dalton School Projects to be financed with sales tax proceeds being $36,917,000; and If the continuation of the tax is approved by the voters of the Whitfield County School District, such vote shall also constitute approval of the issuance of general obligation debt of Whitfield County School District in the principal amount of $41,000,000 for the purposes of the Whitfield County School District described in items (i) - (vi) above and for the purpose of payment of a portion of the interest on such debt. The several places for holding said election shall be at the regular and established voting precincts of the election districts of Whitfield County School District and the City of Dalton School District and the polls will be open from 7:00 a.m., to 7:00 p.m. on the date fixed for the election. The last day to register to vote in this election shall be February 21, 2017, through 5:00 p.m. Those residents of Whitfield County qualified to vote at such election shall be determined in all respects in accordance with the election laws of the State of Georgia, In accordance with Section 36-82-1(d) of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, as amended, any brochures, listings, or other advertisements issued by the Whitfield County Board of Education or by any other person, firm, corporation, or association with the knowledge and consent of the Whitfield County Board of Education shall be deemed to be a statement of intention of said Whitfield County Board of Education concerning the use of the proceeds of the County Debt and shall be binding on the Whitfield County Board of Education in the expenditure of any such bond proceeds or interest received from such bond proceeds which have been invested, unless the Whitfield County Board of Education uses such bond proceeds for the retirement of bonded indebtedness, in the manner provided for in Section 36-82-1(d) of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, as amended from time to time. This call for election is made pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Education of Whitfield County, a resolution of the City of Dalton Board of Education and an order of the Board of Elections of Whitfield County. Mary Hammontree Election Superintendent, Whitfield County, Georgia 02/17
↧