16-03-2025
Savannah-Chatham school's ESPLOST referendum vote happens Tuesday
For nearly 20 years, buying dinner at the famous Olde Pink House downtown or purchasing a large Moon River Mocha Cutter's Point in Sandfly has contributed to public education.
So, too, have a myriad of other sales purchases as a result of the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System's Educational Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST). Next Tuesday, March 18 marks citizen's final day to vote on whether or not the school district should enter into the fifth iteration of the sales tax.
Superintendent Denise Watts noted at a Wednesday press conference that historically over $400 million ESPLOST funds have been invested back into the community through contracts with local builders, suppliers and other service providers.
Chamber President and CEO Bert Brantley also spoke at the event, citing the district and school board's "commitment to our students, in particular, your focus on literacy, absenteeism and math" as influencing the Chamber's endorsement. He said Chamber members experience those issues "every day in the workforce" as well and welcome a community effort to address them to ensure a "ready-made workforce that will meet the needs, not only of today, but also tomorrow and in the years to come."
Here is what voters should know before heading to the polls.
Early voting started on Feb. 24. The ESPLOST special election will be Tuesday, March 18.
Mail-in early voting ended on March 7. In-person early voting ends on Friday, March 14.
The school district's ESPLOST V would raise approximately $705 million through a continuation of the 1% penny sales tax for Chatham County.
ESPLOST V funds would be used for:
Property acquisition for and building of new public schools;
Existing school projects that could renovate, reconfigure, and equip schools and athletic facilities;
Safety, security and technology upgrades and enhancements;
Various technology and facilities projects for three of the district's five public charter schools: Coastal Empire Montessori Charter School, Savannah Classical Academy and Tybee Island Maritime Academy.
The school district has listed specific proposed projects for voters to review. Many projects remain in the early phases of design and development since they rely on the funding to move forward. Key highlights include replacing the facility for the STEM Academy at Bartlett Middle School, reimagining 208 Bull Street as both administrative offices and an educational space dubbed the Bull Street Center for Architecture and Design, and Pooler's first high school (as part of a larger educational complex in West Chatham on Pine Barren Road).
An extensive list of county-wide projects can be found within the Dec. 18, 2024 resolution for the referendum approved by the school board.
Here's exactly how the ESPLOST question will read on election day:
Shall a one percent sales and use tax be imposed in the Chatham County School District for a period of time not to exceed twenty consecutive calendar quarters in order to raise not more than $705,000,000 for the purpose of (a) constructing new schools and additions to schools; (b) renovating, reconfiguring, and equipping schools, support facilities, and athletic facilities; (c) modernizing and improving system-wide administrative, and site improvements, property acquisition, upgrading and replacing mechanical systems, HVAC, and roofing; (d) providing safety, security, and technology upgrades and enhancements; (e) providing Charter School capital outlay projects to Coastal Empire Montessori Charter School for equipment/buses, site improvements, technology and secure facilities; Savannah Classical Academy technology and campus security improvements and repairs to roof and HVAC systems; and Tybee Island Maritime Academy equipment and technology improvements. If imposition of the tax is approved by the voters, such vote shall also constitute approval of the issuance of general obligation debt of the Chatham County School District in the maximum principal amount of $200,000,000 for the above capital outlay purposes and for the payment of capitalized interest.
( ) YES( ) NO
Groups in support of ESPLOST tend to cite its focus on providing high-quality facilities to meet modern learning and workforce development training needs in the county. Proponents such as the Savannah Chamber of Commerce have also highlighted that visitors to Savannah have contributed over 40% of past ESPLOST revenue, so the burden does not fall squarely on county residents.
Brantley encouraged the public, regardless of their position, to show up at the polls next Tuesday.
"This is your chance to have your voice heard in the way that your government operates," he said.
Opponent groups such as the Chatham County GOP have stated that ESPLOST burdens citizens with yet another tax coupled with the rising cost of living and inflation increases. Such groups argue that the school district should focus on improving use of existing fiscal resources such as millage rate tax revenue and other forms of state and federal funding. They also advocate for more exploration of private partnership opportunities.
Joseph Schwartzburt is the education and workforce development reporter for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at JSchwartzburt@ and JoeInTheKnow_SMN on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah public schools special tax election will be Tuesday, March 18
