Forsyth County board approves SPLOST 7 referendum to ask voters for nearly $400 million

The Forsyth County Board of Education on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution to place a proposed Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST 7) referendum before voters on Nov. 4, 2025.

The measure as presented would authorize just under $400 million over five years for capital projects the district categorized into three priority bands: red (critical), blue (high priority) and gold (contingent on revenue). Administration said the plan emphasizes pay‑as‑you‑go financing rather than issuing bonds and would fund new and expanded school facilities, infrastructure updates, safety projects and site improvements.

District staff and board members said SPLOST proceeds are restricted to capital projects, not salaries or operating costs, and that the district has used the sales tax previously to finance construction, life‑cycle maintenance and equipment. Matt Wark, the staff presenter on SPLOST planning, told the board the list includes a new elementary school and additions at several middle and high schools to relieve enrollment pressures; district planners also proposed turfing high‑school baseball/softball fields and practice football fields and allocating funds for elementary playground turf. Wark said many projects on the gold list would be funded only if collections remain strong over the five‑year period.

Board discussion emphasized three priorities: safety spending, HVAC and infrastructure life‑cycle work, and avoiding long‑term debt. Superintendent Mitch Young recommended the resolution to the board after Wark’s presentation. Board member Michael Grimes moved adoption; board member William Usherwood seconded, and the vote was unanimous.

Key figures and details presented by staff included: a planning authorization just under $400 million for five years (the current SPLOST 6 authorization is about $300 million), an average monthly SPLOST inflow of roughly $5 million, and an approach to stagger projects so the district can “pay as it goes” rather than issue bonds. Wark said the red category lists projects the administration is confident it can complete regardless of revenue volatility; blue projects are high priority and likely fundable; and gold projects would proceed only if revenue permits. The presentation also named types of projects expected to be funded: safety and security allocations (to be prioritized by the safety department), HVAC and electrical upgrades, classroom and fine‑arts expansions, transportation (bus purchases), furniture/fixtures/equipment, and capital maintenance.

Board members and staff highlighted pressure points in the northwest portion of the county, where several elementary schools already use multiple classroom trailers. In the presentation and follow‑up discussion staff reported that Pools Mill would have 10 trailers at the start of the school year after adding two more, that another elementary also had 10 trailers, and that Sawney Elementary had 12 trailers. Board members said additions funded by SPLOST could reduce the need for redistricting and are less expensive per student than building brand‑new schools.

Wark also described an initiative to turf high‑school baseball and softball fields and provide practice turf fields at schools that lack them, arguing turf increases multiuse capacity, reduces weather‑related cancellations and supports rentals and community partnerships. He proposed a district allocation for elementary playground turf (roughly 12,000 square feet per site, estimated at about $100,000 today per allocation) and said some schools have already contributed fundraising toward turf projects.

If the referendum passes, staff said they will return to the board with detailed implementation steps, design schedules and sequencing plans so projects can begin as revenue accumulates. Several board members noted that because projects are “pay as you go” and front‑loaded, the district will need to accumulate funds before starting some larger items.

The board voted unanimously to adopt the resolution to put the SPLOST 7 referendum before voters on Nov. 4, 2025. The motion was made by Michael Grimes and seconded by William Usherwood.

The resolution vote concluded the SPLOST portion of the meeting; staff said they will provide additional design and sequencing discussions to the board should the referendum pass.