Sunday, November 12, 2023–5:30 p.m.

-David Crowder, WRGA News-

The issuance of bonds for the new Rome Middle School project will be back before the Rome City Commission on Monday.

The commission will consider a bond resolution and a bond purchase agreement for up to $120 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. The school system also has about $16 million in state money for the project.

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.

In September, agreements with the Rome City School System and the Rome Building Authority passed by a 5-4 vote with Commissioners Askew Beaman, Cochran, and Collins voting “yes” and Commissioners Bojo, Doss, McDaniel, and Quick voting “no.” Rome Mayor Sundai Stevenson then cast the deciding “yes” vote.

There will be a couple of new members on the Rome City Commission after the first of the year following Tuesday’s election. A poll in a candidate Q&A published in the Rome News-Tribune last week, counting those new members, puts the vote at 6-3 against the current proposal.

The bond proposal goes back before the Rome Building Authority at 4:30 p.m. and then to the Rome City School Board during a called-meeting at 6 pm.

Since that September meeting, the school system has taken some items out of the project, such as a 2,000-seat stadium and a third floor, reducing the price to $108 million.

The Rome Commission caucus starts at 5 p.m. with the regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. at Rome City Hall.