Election Guide: ESPLOST, Redevelopment Powers and Alcohol Sales

Tomorrow morning, polls open for the 2011 election.

In Dunwoody, the ballot will be filled with plenty of choices.

There are four seats on the city council, a Sunday alcohol sales vote, two $33 million parks bonds, a redevelopment powers referendum and SPLOST, which would go to improvements in the DeKalb County School District, all on the Tuesday ballot.

Last week, .

Today, we’ve got explanations on SPLOST, the alcohol sales referendum and the city’s redevelopment powers referendum.

SPLOST

SPLOST is penny sales tax that has funded thousands of projects for public schools since 1997, including roughly 22 new schools in DeKalb and hundreds of major renovations to schools around the county.

This round of the sales tax — known as SPLOST IV — would collect roughly $475 million from taxpayers between 2012 and 2017 and would pay to replace Austin Elementary School among hundreds of other projects.

The replacement cost listed on the facility report for Austin is $13.2 million, though it’s not clear whether the school would be replaced at its current site or somewhere else in the area.

Roughly $144 million of the money collected from the special tax would replace seven elementary schools in the county including Austin. About $10 million would pay for stadium renovations, including North DeKalb Stadium and $90 million for renovations to existing buildings

Nearly $39 million would fund technology upgrades including smart boards and wireless Internet, and about $2.5 million is earmarked for ADA compliance.

These projects are just a portion of $2.2 billion in replacement and renovation projects school officials say are necessary in the district.

To date, the special tax has raised more than $1.2 billion for DeKalb County Schools.

From 1997 to 2002, $415 million was collected and used to build 10 new schools and improve classroom technology, among other renovations and upgrades. 

The second round of the special tax put $457 million into the school system. The money funded construction of 11 new schools and renovations of 10 existing schools.

The current special tax has collected $402 million and helped to replace schools, complete 12 major renovations and 140 minor renovations. This special tax expires June 12, 2012.

Local Blogger Rick Callihan wrote an opinion piece against SPLOST For the AJC. DeKalb businessman and district parent Ernest Brown wrote in favor of SPLOST for the AJC.

State Sen. Fran Millar (R-Dunwoody) wrote in favor of ESPLOST in last week's Dunwoody Crier.

There are also several postings from Maureen Downey's 'Get Schooled' blog at the AJC and DeKalb School Watch on the issue, which address SPLOST from many angles.

For more information about SPLOST IV, visit the DeKalb County School System website.

Redevelopment Powers Referendum

The Redevelopment Powers Law allows cities to use state-approved economic development tools to help improve development in the city.

Many cities in Georgia already use such powers, but in order for Dunwoody to use them the powers must be approved by local voters.

One of the key powers among these is the power for the city to form tax allocation districts.

These districts can give companies and developers incentive to build and improve in distressed areas.

“If approved, the City may designate a specific geographic area with the potential for redevelopment, but is presently economically or socially distressed,” the city referendum says. “As public improvements and private development take place in the area, the taxable value of property in the area increases. The City collects the total revenues, putting the increase in revenues as a result of new development into a special fund to pay eligible redevelopment costs, while the remainder goes back into the City’s general fund. The TAD is not a tax increase and any public financing for eligible redevelopments costs are not a general obligation debt to the City.  “

Here are some in-depth explanations of how TADs work from the Atlanta Development Authority and the Georgia Municipal Association.

TADs have been used in the development of several areas of Atlanta and surrounding cities, to varying success. TADs were used in the development of Atlantic Station. They’ve come under scrutiny, especially as development slumped along with the economy over the last several years.

Sunday Alcohol Sales

Voters will also get to voter whether Dunwoody stores should be able to sell alcohol on Sundays. Earlier this year, the on Sunday alcohol sales.

Dunwoody’s city council .