The Carroll County Schools District is beginning the process to call for the renewal of the one-percent Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax which would be earmarked for school projects benefiting the Carroll County Schools District, Carrollton City Schools and the Bremen City Schools District.
64-percent of voters in Carroll County approved the current E-SPLOST plan when it was proposed in June of 2020.
As a sales tax, the E-SPLOST applies to all consumer goods sold to people who live, work, visit and shop in the county.
In 2018, voters statewide approved giving school districts with a majority of enrolled students within a county the power to call for the E-SPLOST vote with or without the consent of other school systems in the county that are smaller. Locally that means Carroll County Schools can call for the vote without Bremen City Schools’ consent or Carrollton City Schools’ consent.
The 2018 amendment also essentially took away a majority of the negotiating power for smaller districts on how much they should receive — most likely resulting in collected funding being shared throughout the schools based on student population.
Of the 2020 E-SPLOST revenue currently being collected, the Carroll County Schools District claims 71.77% or a maximum of $102,631,100; the Carrollton City School District: 26.23%, or a maximum of $37,508,900; and, the Bremen School District: 2.00% or a maximum of $2,860,000.
When asking for support for the 2020 E-SPLOST, the Carroll County Schools District told voters that proposed projects that would be supported by the tax included:
BHS – New classroom wing, band room addition, and other improvements
CHS – Gym and dining room addition, and other improvements
MZMS – New gym, bandroom, and other improvements
SHES – Dining room addition and classroom replacement
Temple Schools – New track and other facility improvements
VRES – New classroom addition
VRHS – Rebuild stadium and other improvements
Technology, Fine Arts, and equipment funding for schools
Other additions, renovations, and improvements districtwide
The Carroll County Schools District is currently working with legal counsel to draft the concurrent resolution calling for the renewal of the E-SPLOST in Carroll County. Additional discussion and action on the resolution and call for election is scheduled for the December board meeting.
Voters would then consider the E-SPLOST VII proposal in 2025.
