Board unanimously OKs placing penny sales tax referendum and senior tax‑exemption bill on ballot; routine items pass

At its Jan. 12 meeting the Lee County Board of Education approved several routine consent items and two ballot‑related referrals for voters and the Legislature.

On the consent calendar the board approved minutes from the Dec. 8, 2025 meeting, accepted the November 2025 financial report, approved the personnel agenda, and approved the consent agenda (which included fundraisers, trips, facility use and the first reading of Policy E). Each of those motions was moved, seconded and recorded as passing unanimously (motions recorded in the transcript as passing "5 to zero").

The board also approved a resolution to place a penny sales tax (a one‑cent sales tax) referendum on the May 2026 election ballot to fund capital projects, including building and mechanical repairs. The administration cited as an example the estimated cost to replace the high‑school HVAC system at about $5 million; the tax would spread capital costs across visitors and local spenders as well as residents. The board voted to place the referendum on the ballot.

The board approved a proposed senior tax‑exemption referendum for presentation to local legislative representatives for consideration in the upcoming Georgia General Assembly. The proposed measure was described as two‑part relief: bond‑tax relief and broader relief for vulnerable seniors. The board’s motion to submit the proposed legislation passed unanimously.

Actions at a glance: - Minutes (Dec. 8, 2025) — approved (vote recorded as 5–0). - November 2025 financial report — accepted (unanimous). - Enter executive session (personnel/superintendent applicants) — motion passed (transcript recorded as 5–0). - Personnel agenda — approved (unanimous). - Consent agenda (fundraisers, trips, facility use, policy first reading) — approved (unanimous). - Resolution to place penny sales tax referendum on May 2026 ballot — approved (unanimous). - Senior tax‑exemption referendum (to be submitted as local legislation) — approved (unanimous).

Where motions or seconds were not named in the record, the transcript records only that a motion and a second were made and that the board voted in favor. No public comments were recorded for or against the ballot items during the meeting; the board noted they had received fewer than 10 community responses to the posted project list prior to the vote.

Next step: if approved by the appropriate local processes, the penny sales‑tax referendum will appear on the May 2026 ballot and the senior tax measure will be transmitted to local legislative representatives for consideration by the General Assembly.