Oconee Schools Launching $54.6 In Construction Spending

Oconee County Schools has embarked on $54.6 million in construction project since the passage of the Education Local Option Sales Tax referendum by voters in March.

Included is a $3.4 million addition to Colham Ferry Elementary School that already is underway.

Oconee County Schools also has issued a request for proposals for a $3.1 million addition to High Shoals Elementary School.

Next in line is construction of a new middle school at the site of the Dove Creek Elementary School. The cost of that project is set at $36.6 million

The fourth project is an $8.3 million New Instruction Support Center–or administrative building.

The final project is a classroom addition to Malcom Bridge Elementary School at a cost of $3.2 million.

These cost estimates come from a document released by the schools as the result of an open records request. Oconee County Schools refused to release cost estimates in advance of the March referendum.

The promotional materials used in advance of that vote listed these five construction projects, four renovation projects, and two other areas of spending. The Instructional Support Center was at the bottom of the construction list shown to voters–below the renovation projects.

The total cost estimate of $54.6 million for these five projects alone exceeds the collection cap of $48.5 million for the tax.

For more on this story, please click through to Oconee County Observations.