Buford City Schools sues Hall over failure to pay ESPLOST funds. Hall says it’s not paying

Replace: Buford Metropolis Colleges filed a lawsuit Friday in opposition to Corridor County Colleges, demanding $1.64 million in damages and alleging that the college system uncared for to pay its justifiable share of cash it acquired from an schooling gross sales tax.

Buford Metropolis Colleges accuses Corridor College Colleges of breaching an settlement signed by former Gov. Nathan Deal on March 15, 2016, which requires Corridor County Colleges, Gainesville Metropolis Colleges and Buford Metropolis Colleges to divide income from the Schooling Particular Goal Native Choice Gross sales Tax, calculated based mostly on scholar enrollment. 

ESPLOST is a penny gross sales tax on retail purchases allotted among the many three faculty districts.

The lawsuit names Corridor County Superintendent Will Schofield and Finance Officer Jonathan Boykin because the defendants, accusing them of getting “refused to carry out their ministerial and/or discretionary duties in remitting cost to the (Buford Metropolis Colleges) for ESPLOST V proceeds per the Intergovernmental Settlement and particular legislation.”

Buford Metropolis Colleges says it despatched an bill for $1.64 million to Corridor County Colleges on Sept. 16.

“Within the ensuing two months,” the lawsuit says, Boykin “suggested no cost was forthcoming with none clarification, query, or objection to stated calculation.” 

“Different makes an attempt to inquire of HCSD as to the standing of this matter have gone unanswered,” the lawsuit continues.

Phillip Beard, chairman of the Buford faculty board, stated Corridor County paid half of the cash it owes in ESPLOST revenues however is withholding the opposite half. Beard stated Buford has about 1,000 college students who stay in Corridor County. 

“I don’t know why they don’t wish to pay it,” Beard stated. “Are they out of cash?” 

Schofield stated Buford is demanding more cash than its owed underneath the phrases of the intergovernmental settlement. 

Schofield stated Buford has about 500 college students who don’t stay within the metropolis however who pay tuition to attend Buford faculties, which excludes them from any calculation for figuring out ESPLOST income. In different phrases, he stated, Buford’s ESPLOST revenues must be calculated based mostly on a scholar headcount nearer to 500, not 1,000.