Lookout Mountain, Ga., officials said Thursday that without income from the Special Local Option Sales Tax for Walker County (SPLOST), taxes would have to be raised 15 to 20 percent.
The annual municipal election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 5th, and on the ballot will be the extension of the SPLOST.
SPLOST is a one percent of the seven percent Georgia sales tax paid when purchasing items. SPLOST funds help the Lookout Mountain, Ga., community by providing for necessary fire and police equipment, public works facility and equipment, as well as for streets and signs, garbage trucks, and sewer management.
The Walker County Chamber of Commerce has complete information on all projects that receive SPLOST funds. A pamphlet is available at city hall about the advances SPLOST funding has created for the area.
In the November election there will be no names for public office on the ballot. All candidates are running unopposed.
The council approved the millage rate after the second reading of ordinance 275. The ordinance adopts a total of 8.5 mils, the same rate that has been in effect for the last several years.
Present at the meeting was Caroline Williams, vice president of the Fairyland School PTO and chair of the Fairyland Education Fund. Her purpose of speaking to the council was to raise awareness of what is happening at Fairyland School and help facilitate keeping communication lines open between the school and the council.
Mrs. Williams briefed the council on education budget cuts that Walker County has implemented for this school year. Mrs. Williams told the council that the PTO is supplementing what the county and state has cut funds for like the school’s fine arts programs, art teacher, physical education equipment, playground maintenance, and computer equipment.
While the city of Lookout Mountain, Ga., cannot directly give contributions to the school due to state laws the council does like to stay abreast on the activities and happenings at the school.
Mrs. Williams also updated the council on a couple of pluses, Fairyland School is one of the highest-ranked schools in the state of Georgia and it has one of the highest score averages in the state. Mrs. Williams is raising awareness for the Fairyland School Fund that supports education and advancement measures at the school.
The council meets for its next regularly scheduled meeting Thursday, Nov. 21, at 5:30 p.m.