Monroe County Citizens Group Pushing Penny Tax, Hoping to Build Fine Arts Center

FORSYTH, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — An education penny tax is back on the ballot in Monroe County. A group of citizens, called the Cultural and Academic Supporters of Excellence is pushing voters to say yes and if it passes they’ve got a big plan to build a big facility.

Your pennies have funded interactive technology in the classroom, new schools, and transportation. Now, C.A.S.E. wants your pennies to help pay for a brand new fine arts center.

“Not all students are adept at academics or athletics but we have students that are talented in the fine arts,” said Truett Goodwin.

Goodwin and Percell Kelly are the leaders of C.A.S.E. both are products of public education, and both have grand-children Monroe County schools.

As a former inner-city school teacher and musician, Kelly saw first hand just how big of an impact fine arts can have on a student’s life.

“Some of those students caused difficulties in their classroom but once they got into chorus and found that success they became better students,” said Kelly.

C.A.S.E. is hoping the voters will see the benefit in the building, and vote to continue the five year penny tax. The current one expires in May of 2014.

Many people 41NBC spoke with didn’t want to go on camera. Some said they’re tired of paying extra taxes when they don’t even have a child in the school system, while others say the cost of educating a child in Monroe County is worth every penny.

“The children of this state, the children of this community need to be extra competitive,” said Karen Leverett.

Leverett has kids in the school system. She says she’s seen how investing now pays off in the future.

“A lot of folks come back to the community, and end up giving back to the community. My husband’s one of them he left, he’s back, and I know there’s a lot of folks who come back to forsyth. This is a great town,” said Leverett.

Early voting is already underway at the new Monroe County annex building. It continues Friday, and next week from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. The official election takes place on March 19th.