Dalton State ready to grow as referendum passes

Published 12:12 am Wednesday, November 5, 2014

What is the most affordable way for Dalton State College to build new on-campus housing?

Let someone else pay for it.

That is the plan for the University System of Georgia, and Dalton State, now that Georgia voters approved a statewide referendum to extend a “public property” ad valorem tax exemption to privately held and operated student dormitories and parking decks that service institutions within the University System.

Voters approved the referendum (the Georgia Private College Buildings Tax Exemption, Referendum 1) by a wide margin Tuesday. It will give private developers the ability to build on-campus housing, or parking decks, for colleges — taking that burden off of the state — and be extended the same property tax exemption all publicly-owned buildings are afforded.

As of press time, with 92 percent of Georgia precincts reporting, more than 73 percent of Georgia voters had cast votes for approval of the measure. In Whitfield County, with all votes in, approximately 73 percent of voters approved.

“Assuming the numbers hold and the referendum does pass, we believe this is a big vote of confidence for the University System, and locally, a big vote of confidence in Dalton State College,” said David Elrod, director of the Dalton State Foundation. “Locally, a lot of people want to see the college grow, and a lot of people believe that taking the next step with student housing is a key way for us to grow. We couldn’t be more pleased with this result.”

Proponents of the referendum say it will save the University System money and allow for growth throughout.

For Dalton State, that growth could come sooner, rather than later.

According to Elrod, Dalton State is one of nine campuses where a developer has already proposed to build new student housing if the referendum passed — officially, the measure goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2015.

“We are on the ready and this (vote for approval) puts us on the go,” Elrod said. “We can take the next step, which is to transfer our property to the state of Georgia. A developer would then come in next summer and remove the existing apartment buildings to build new housing there. We would see new student housing open up on our campus in 2016.”

The property referenced is the former Wood Valley Apartments, purchased by the Dalton State Foundation in 2005, which includes 11 acres adjacent to the college. Some of that 11 acres would be deeded over to the Board of Regents for what could be a college dormitory with as many as 350 rooms. The building could be open in time for the 2016 fall semester at Dalton State.

“This vote helps fulfill a long-time expectation of the community for this college to become a traditional, full-fledged, four-year institution that includes everything that goes along with that,” Elrod said. “We are well on our way.”

According to University System officials, developers would make profits on the privately built dormitories, but tuition prices for students would remain regulated through contracts with the University System.

Colleges will still hire resident advisers and campus police, and be responsible for collecting the rent from students. Private companies would provide maintenance and repairs.