Rabun County voters made their voices heard at the ballot box and voted “yes” to the continuation of a one-percent Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (E-SPLOST).
The vote was 1,066 to 539 with only 12.55 percent of registered voters, 1,607 people, casting a ballot for the one percent sales and use tax for educational purposes. As part of that, voters also decided that $38 million in aggregate principal amount of Rabun County School District general obligation bonds be issued.
“We really appreciate the support of our community,” said Superintendent Dr. April Childers following Tuesday’s election about the passing of the E-SPLOST. “We’re grateful for those who went and voted in support.”
Childers said the E-SPLOST will help keep Rabun County Schools facilities up as well as help with the bus fleet and technology updates.
It is a continuation of the sales tax already in place, so no new sales tax will be implemented.
The E-SPLOST will be used for a new Rabun County High School academic building in addition to maintenance on existing buildings, buses and technology, according to information from Rabun County Schools.
The current RCHS academic building is more than 46 years old; there are currently more teachers than there are classrooms; the HVAC system is beyond repair; and classrooms are small and not suitable for 21st-century learning, according to information from the school system.
An E-SPLOST is a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax for education. It is a one-cent sales tax on all retail purposes. Everyone who makes a purchase in Rabun County, including visitors, contributes to improving our schools, according to information by Rabun County Schools featured in a promotional video.
By law, an E-SPLOST can only be used for certain capital projects, such as facilities, computers, and buses. SPLOST funds cannot be used for the day-to-day operational expenses of a school district.