DeKalb County Voters Support E-SPLOST With 81 Percent Vote

DEKALB COUNTY, GA — The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (E-SPLOST) referendum was passed by DeKalb County voters with an 81 percent vote of approval.

The E-SPLOST will impose a one percent sales and use tax on goods and services purchased in DeKalb County for the next five years. The district estimates the tax will bring in $660 million to $700 million in revenue and fund school improvements and program enhancement projects, according to a news release.

This E-SPLOST is a continuation for the school district, according to the release. The E-SPLOST V fund collection goes from July 2017 until June 2022. E-SPLOST VI collection is scheduled to be levied from July 2022 until June 2027.

“This is a great day for DCSD students and the community," said DCSD Superintendent Cheryl Watson-Harris in a statement. "With the support of DeKalb County voters, we will continue to provide safe, clean, and innovative learning environments for our scholars.

“I want to thank our staff and our volunteers on the SPLOST Advisory Committee for their hard work in educating the community on E-SPLOST. I also want to thank everyone who virtually attended our Comprehensive Master Plan town hall meetings.”

E-SPLOST projects include:

• building a new Cross Keys high school
• the creation of a Sequoyah school cluster, including a new middle school, high school, and adjacent elementary school;
• repurposing McNair High School into a Career Tech Academy;
• merging Dunaire and Allgood elementary schools into a new school with an early learning center
• rebuilding Hawthorne Elementary and merging with Henderson Mill Elementary.

Other projects include:

• replacing Avondale High School with a new building and stadium to become the Performing Arts Academy
• setting up a Cyber Technology and Engineering Academy with a conversion of Towers High School
• rebuilding Dresden Elementary School, Stoneview Elementary School, Jolly Elementary School and Henderson High School

• the creation of a K-8 at Austin Elementary
• additional early learning centers
• additional technological infrastructure improvements