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Liberty County schools tout $112 million expected from proposed 1¢ education sales tax extension
Summary
School officials previewed a March special election to extend a 1¢ local option sales tax, saying the revenue would fund capital projects, buses, technology and facility upgrades across the district.
Miss Baker, speaking on behalf of the Liberty County School System, opened the meeting’s inspiration segment with a presentation urging registered voters to participate in a special election in March that would decide whether to extend a 1¢ special-purpose local option sales tax dedicated to schools.
The district projects the proposed extension—referred to in the presentation as East Plus or “ESPLOST 6”—would generate about $112,000,000 over five years for capital improvements in 13 schools, expansions to the career academy and the establishment of a new school. “By investing in ESPLOST, we invest in our children's future and the entire community,” Miss Baker said.
The presentation noted legally prescribed limits on the tax’s uses: proceeds “can be used for facility improvements, technology, and school bus purchases” but not for salaries or consumable instructional materials, according to the district’s description. The collection period for the proposed extension is scheduled to begin in February 2026 and end in February 2031.
Officials said the district anticipates average monthly collections of approximately $1,650,000 during the proposed collection period and that the district has collected more than $35,000,000 to date under prior ESPLOST authorizations. Miss Baker said prior ESPLOST 6 funding paid for 12 comprehensive school renovations, HVAC and energy-management upgrades, new digital signs at multiple campuses, athletic field turf and court upgrades, and more than $3,000,000 in buses, safety and maintenance improvements.
Miss Baker provided specific figures the district has recorded from previous collections and projects for the new period: roughly $14,000,000 in named projects, more than $46,000,000 allocated for facility upgrades overall, about $5,000,000 for technology and infrastructure enhancements, and an energy rebate of $31,991 tied to lighting upgrades at Midway Middle School. She also said the district has acquired 60 new buses over the past six years, lowering the fleet’s average age from 19 to 9 years.
Chair Jones confirmed the meeting was in compliance with the Georgia Open Meetings Act before the board proceeded with routine business. The presentation concluded with an encouragement for community members to share ESPLOST materials and to vote during early and absentee periods that have already begun.
The board did not take a formal vote on the tax extension at this meeting; the presentation was informational and framed to encourage public participation in the forthcoming special election.
