Tuesday, September 26, 2023–8:00 p.m.

-David Crowder, WRGA News-

The proposed new Rome Middle School was not on the agenda for Monday’s Rome City Commission meeting, but the subject came up during the public participation portion of the meeting.

Roger Wade told commissioners that he was concerned with the amount of debt the city would be taking on by issuing bonds for the project.

“It’s huge,” he said. “It’s something we’ve not encountered before. It isn’t, in my opinion, something we need to be doing now financially.”

Wade said the city is looking at $160 million in debt and interest over the next 20 years.

“That’s $4,231 for every man, woman, and child living in the City of Rome,” he added.

Meanwhile, David Doss wonders if Commissioner Bill Collins should be voting on the bond issue since his wife Faith is chair of the Rome City School Board.

“First and foremost, I raise this issue with no disrespect to Mr. Collins or his wife as I have considered them to be close, personal friends for probably more than 30 years,” Doss said. “Furthermore, I am not an attorney and I make no claim to be an expert in legal matters. However, I have researched this matter, and from a layman’s point of view, it seems quite clear to me that a conflict may very well in fact exist.”

The final bond resolution is set to go to the Rome City Commission for final approval on October 23.