Clarke County School District Renewal of 1% Educational Sales Tax (ESPLOST)

What it does

Shall a one percent sales and use tax for educational purposes be imposed, levied and collected in the Clarke County School District (the “School District”) for a period of time not to exceed twenty consecutive calendar quarters (5 years), beginning immediately upon the expiration of the one percent sales and use tax for educational purposes currently being collected, and for the raising of not more than $215,000,000, for the purposes of acquiring, constructing and equipping the following capital outlay projects: (a) additions to, renovations of, repairs to, improvements to, and equipment for existing educational, administrative and services buildings, properties, and facilities of the School District, as indicated by enrollment and enrollment trends, including, without limitation, Bettye Henderson Holston Elementary School, Barnett Shoals Elementary School, David C. Barrow Elementary School, Johnnie Lay Burks Elementary School, Cleveland Road Elementary School, Fowler Drive Elementary School, West Broad School Complex, Howard B. Stroud Elementary School, Judia J. Harris Elementary School, the current Gaines Elementary School, the facility formerly operated as Gaines Elementary School, Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary School, Timothy Road Elementary School, Whit Davis Elementary School, Whitehead Road Elementary School, Winterville Elementary School, Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle School, Clarke Middle School, W. R. Coile Middle School, Hilsman Middle School, Cedar Shoals High School, Clarke Central High School and Classic City High School, Athens Community Career Academy, Early Learning Center, athletic facilities, transportation facilities (including bus driver training facilities), maintenance facilities, storage facilities (including the storage facility located on Barber Street), and administrative and services facilities; (b) new administrative and services facilities, and professional and early learning facilities; (c) technology to be used at all educational and administrative facilities, including, but not limited to, computers, laptops, tablets and mobile devices for students and staff, servers, wiring, wireless antennas, and other technology upgrades with necessary hardware, software, and programs; (d) acquisition of and/or improvements to real and personal property, including, but not limited to, improved or unimproved land and existing buildings for future school or administrative and services facility sites, custodial and school nutrition kitchen equipment and other furniture, fixtures and equipment; (e) security system upgrades, equipment and infrastructure to all educational and administrative facilities; (f) school buses (including installment payments); (g) sewer system upgrades to convert from septic systems to public sewer; (h) capital expenditures in accordance with the School District's strategic plan for facilities; and (i) capitalized expenses incident thereto (including the payment of any capitalized interest); all in accordance with the facilities plans of the School District, as the same may be revised in accordance with the needs of the School District? If imposition of the tax is approved by the voters, such vote shall also constitute approval of the issuance of general obligation debt of the Clarke County School District in the principal amount of $75,000,000 for the above purpose and the costs of issuance of such debt.

A YES vote means

The Clarke County School District's 1 percent school sales tax would continue for up to 5 years after the current one expires, raising up to $215,000,000 for school buildings, technology, security, land, buses and sewer upgrades, and the district could issue $75,000,000 in debt for these purposes.

A NO vote means

The Clarke County School District's 1 percent school sales tax would not continue after the current one expires, and the $75,000,000 in debt would not be approved.

What it would cost

Up to 1% sales tax: $1 on a $100 taxable purchase. It would continue a tax already in place rather than add a new one.

Needed to pass

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Left–right lean

Unclear: our AI read of the official summary isn't confident enough (we require 70%) to place this on the left–right spectrum, so we don't. Read the summary and decide for yourself.

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Background

According to Athens-Clarke County's official election notice, the Clarke County Board of Education adopted a resolution calling for the vote on June 11, 2026, and the county Board of Elections and Registration then issued the call of election.

The notice says a yes vote would also approve up to $75,000,000 in school district general obligation debt. That debt would carry interest of no more than six percent and mature in annual amounts from $13,575,000 in 2028 to $16,500,000 in 2032.

The notice says plans and specifications for the projects have not been completed. It says the district may reorder priorities or delay projects if sales tax, debt and other funds fall short.

Put on the ballot by Clarke County Board of Education, resolution adopted June 11, 2026 (vote tally not stated in the notice); call of election by the Athens-Clarke County Board of Elections and Registration.

From official source.

Next elections here

• Georgia general and special election runoff · December 1, 2026: the races aren't published yet
• 2028 presidential election · Who has filed so far, from FEC filings

Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Clarke County School District Renewal of 1% Educational Sales Tax (ESPLOST) mean?

The Clarke County School District's 1 percent school sales tax would continue for up to 5 years after the current one expires, raising up to $215,000,000 for school buildings, technology, security, land, buses and sewer upgrades, and the district could issue $75,000,000 in debt for these purposes.

What does a NO vote on Clarke County School District Renewal of 1% Educational Sales Tax (ESPLOST) mean?

The Clarke County School District's 1 percent school sales tax would not continue after the current one expires, and the $75,000,000 in debt would not be approved.

How many votes does Clarke County School District Renewal of 1% Educational Sales Tax (ESPLOST) need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on Clarke County School District Renewal of 1% Educational Sales Tax (ESPLOST)?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

When is the vote?

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.