Gulf County School Board approves resolution to seek half-cent sales tax on 2026 ballot to fund new schools

The Gulf County School Board on Dec. 9 unanimously approved Resolution #2025-05 asking the Board of Gulf County Commissioners to place a half-cent sales tax referendum on the November 2026 General Election ballot to fund new school facilities.

Superintendent Norton said the district's goal is to prioritize construction where need is greatest, citing Wewahitchka as an area of higher need than Port St. Joe. The agenda-review workshop earlier in the meeting included discussion of the sales tax resolution and the planned next step of forwarding the approved resolution to county commissioners for ballot placement.

The motion to approve program matters, which included the resolution, was made by Chad Bailey and seconded by Equillar Gainer; the board voted unanimously. Vice Chairman Ruby Knox and board members Matt Terry and others were present; Chairman Wooten was out of town and did not participate.

The resolution was listed as agenda item SM: 25/26-078. The meeting record does not state whether the board discussed projected revenue estimates, a proposed duration for the tax, or specific project timelines; those details were not specified in the meeting packet notes included in the transcript.

The board took no public comment on the item during the meeting. If approved by the county commission to be placed on the ballot and subsequently approved by voters, the referendum would authorize the county to collect the additional half-cent sales tax for the purposes identified in the district's resolution.