The Greene County School System (GCSS) is asking us to approve an ESPLOST, the last question on the ballot.
Education Special Purpose Sales Tax is a 1% sales tax applied to the sale of all goods and services in Greene County. To be clear, this is not a new tax but an extension of the ESPLOST already in place in the County since 2018. Greene is among 95% of all counties in Georgia having approved ESPLOST.
The financial argument FOR ESPLOST is straightforward. ESPLOST represents 13% of all revenue for the school system. The projects to be funded by ESPLOST are essential. Without ESPLOST, they would be funded by property taxes. Without ESPLOST, our school tax millage rate would increase by an estimated 3 mils., a 25% increase in our property tax bill.
The cost of this tax does not fall completely on the residents of Greene County. Rather, at least 60% of this tax is paid by tourists or visitors passing through Greene County!
Perhaps the strongest argument for ESPLOST is that its passage will enable GCSS to issue (General Obligation) Bonds which combined with existing GCSS capital reserves will pay for the new elementary school. This school is central to the focus on early education (grades K-5), reading and math, the foundation for children to learn as they progress through our schools. This strategy is being executed successfully in two separate elementary schools as measured by State test scores. Combining these grades into one school will magnify this effort, reduce costs, and create an elementary learning campus.
Vote YES for the ESPLOST Extension!
Gerry Giesler, Carol McClure, Mike McClure