Voters in DeKalb and Fulton approved continuing a penny sales tax estimated to raise nearly $2 billion to fund school improvement projects in those counties and Atlanta.
Results showed residents voted yes Tuesday to extend the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax by a significant margin. Turnout appeared low, as it has been in past E-SPLOST elections.
The extension means the two counties will collect money from the tax for school districts through 2022. The current E-SPLOST expires in 2017.
In Fulton, the E-SPLOST is expected to raise about $976 million over a five-year period for the county school system. Atlanta Public Schools is proposing more than $464 million in E-SPLOST-funded projects. Atlanta schools would get revenue as part of both counties’ tax measures.
In DeKalb, the school sales tax is expected to bring in an estimated $500 million, with plans to use the money to address overcrowded schools and renovations to several outdated schools. City of Decatur schools, in DeKalb, is expected to raise close to $30 million.
Check out MyAjc.com to learn more about how SPLOST money is being spent in metro Atlanta schools.
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