Early voting underway for March ESPLOST referendum

Patti Dozier, Thomasville Times-Enterprise, Ga.
·2 min read

Feb. 24—THOMASVILLE — Early voting in a March education special purpose local option sales tax began Monday and continues through Friday, March 12.

Voting is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Thomas County Elections Office, 1402 E. Jackson St.

The referendum is Tuesday, March 16.

Frank Scoggins, elections supervisor, said 20 people cast early ballots on Monday and 60 on Tuesday.

"It's for a continuation of the current 1% ESPLOST," Scoggins said. "It's not a new tax."

Thomasville City Schools also have an ESPLOST initiative before voters and early voting for it is underway. TCS officials hope to use the ESPLOST and subsequent ESPLOSTs to help fund improvements needed at all three elementary schools, Scholars Academy and a new Thomasville High School campus through a long-term bond. City school board members passed the general obligation bond resolution at their meeting Tuesday night.

Every Thomas County School System would benefit if voters approve the tax, said Thomas County Schools Superintendent Dr. Lisa Williams.

ESPLOST V would provide funding for renovations and improvements at all county schools, along with paying for technology upgrades, new school buses, textbooks and digital instructional content, and instructional, fine arts and athletic equipment, she explained.

Hand-in-Hand Primary School is in need of new paint and floor covering, new heating and air-conditioning, roofing upgrades and updating two Garrison-Pilcher annex buildings and resurfacing parking lots and driveways.

ESPLOST V would provide new windows and doors, modernized restrooms and new paint and floor covering for Cross Creek Elementary School.

Thomas County Middle School needs a new roof, new heating and air conditioning, new ceilings and lights, new floor covering and paint throughout.

Williams said 31-year-old Thomas County Central High School is in need of campus-wide improvements, including new windows and doors, new floor coverings and paint, and new and upgraded parking areas.

ESPLOST V revenue would fund a new multi-purpose building on the high school campus, additional classroom space, a JROTC facility, locker rooms and other athletic facilities.

Renovations and updates also are planned for Bishop Hall Charter School and the Renaissance Center, the school district's alternative school.

With new ESPLOST funding, the school district would complete renovation of buildings on the board of education campus, the original home of Central High School. The 550-seat auditorium located at the board of education, which is used frequently by the community, would be renovated to include new seating, stage curtains and other improvements.

The bond resolution for Thomasville City Schools, which also must go before voters for approval in November, has a limit of 17 years and $42 million.

"That schedule will allow us to utilize SPLOST revenue and pay for that bond, which will allow us to complete our facilities plan," city schools finance director Bo Rosser said at Tuesday's board workshop.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820