Sheriff's Bike Rodeo
Sheriff's Bike Rodeo
Polls open Tuesday for ESPLOST voting
Voting for the education special local option sales tax renewal will take place Tuesday from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. at precincts around the county.
The extension of the ESPLOST is the only issue on the ballot before voters. Several other counties also are conducting ESPLOST measures Tuesday.
The Liberty County School System has laid out a $112 million plan to be funded by ESPLOST proceeds, if it is passed.
Should ESPLOST VII be approved by Liberty County voters, the school system will use about $44 million of the money it provides from an extra penny on the sales tax for a new school.
Technology upgrades across the system are planned under ESPLOST, as are renovations to existing schools. The school system also intends to refresh its bus fleet with buying new buses.
Proceeds from ESPLOST cannot go toward such day-to-day operations as salaries or other compensation for school system employees.
There were 1,237 ballots cast in early voting, with 504 coming in the final week. The final day of early voting – March 14 – was the busiest, with 206 ballots cast. The current ESPLOST was passed in 2021 with 86% of the votes in favor of it.