Here are the latest poll numbers on Muscogee County sales tax for schools vote
Columbus voters have renewed the sales tax that helps fund the Muscogee County School District.
The referendum to continue the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax in Columbus was approved by 69% (21,077) of the 30,631 voters, according to the Muscogee County Board of Elections and Registration.
The results released late Wednesday afternoon are from all 25 voting precincts but are unofficial until they are certified by the five-member county elections board.
It’s the fifth time Columbus voters have been asked to approve this 1% sales tax — and supporters have won every time, following successful campaigns in 1997, 2003, 2009 and 2015.
The renewed ESPLOST, which keeps the city’s total sales tax at 8%, will pay for 22 projects totaling an estimated $189 million. It will last for five years or until the total amount is collected. The projects include the consolidation of two schools into a new building, the construction of a postponed sports complex and the replacement of a public library.
Columbus State University assistant vice president for development and stewardship Cameron Bean and Skipper’s Seafood owner Ronzell Buckner co-chaired the campaign that supports the ESPLOST. Unlike previous years, no group filed with the elections office to campaign against the referendum.
Bean told the Ledger-Enquirer in an emailed interview he is “pleased and proud of our citizens. Grateful that our community wants to give our children the very best we can give them. The wide margin, to me, represents a major vote of confidence in our students, teachers and administrators as well as a sign that, even during challenging times, our children remain a top priority.”
Buckner wasn’t reached for comment before publication.
The result also shows, Bean said, “our community recognizes how past SPLOST funds have contributed to improving the educational experience and outcomes for both our teachers and our students. And this momentum must continue. The real key to success is not about the campaign; it is about people wanting to continue investing in something that is working for the benefit of the children in our community.”
As with the previous ESPLOSTs, a committee of citizens representing every voting district in Muscogee County will “ensure that the promises made by the MCSD administration and school board will be kept, as they always have been,” Bean said.
MCSD superintendent David Lewis thanked the voters and praised the campaign for the victory it delivered.
“We are elated and very grateful to the citizens of Muscogee County who voted in support of the ESPLOST,” he told the L-E in an email. “We especially appreciate the collective efforts of the community campaign committee, co-chaired by Cameron Bean and Ronzell Buckner. The co-chairs and a host of community volunteers remained focused and effectively adapted the campaign’s strategy and resources to overcome the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Likewise, we are thankful to our employees for sharing information that illustrated how the ESPLOST has continuously supported the education of our 32,000 students.”
Lewis added, “We do not take this opportunity for granted. We will continue to ensure we are good stewards of these funds provided by our community. Our citizens are entrusting their investment in us, and we are thankful.”
Muscogee County School Board chairwoman Pat Hugley Green also thanked the voters.
“I am forever grateful of the voters in Muscogee County for continuing the one-cent sales tax for public education,” she told the L-E in an email. “The ESPLOST is critically important as we anticipate significant budget cuts due to the COVID 19 health crisis, and education like other state agencies will experience a reduction in funding.”
The key to the success of the ESPLOST campaign, Green said, “is that promises made have been promises kept. The history of all ESPLOST campaigns has been the priority of each school benefiting from the revenue generated. Parents and other stakeholders have been allowed input in identifying projects to assist with educating the whole child. The implementation of the projects were planned and rolled out sensibly and all project expenditures and progress were regularly communicated to the public.”
The school district’s current ESPLOST is scheduled to expire June 30.
Here is the list of new ESPLOST projects, with estimated costs:
▪ $45.5 million: Improvements to technology and technology infrastructure.
▪ $25 million: New elementary school. Dawson and St. Marys Road elementary schools, about 1 mile away from each other, consolidate into a new school, to be constructed on 20-25 acres of MCSD property behind Dawson. The latest enrollment figures from the Georgia Department of Education show 59-year-old Dawson had 345 students and 63-year-old St. Marys had 502 students as of October. Dawson’s capacity is 475, and St. Marys’ is 438. With enrollment at Dawson below the minimum for full state funding, Lewis has said, merging with St. Marys into a new school would make the district more efficient and effective.
▪ $22.5 million: Unspecified renovations and modifications in district’s five-year facilities plan.
▪ $16 million: Bus, vehicle and transportation equipment replacements.
▪ $15.5 million: Athletics facilities improvements throughout the district, including upgrades to middle school football and soccer fields, expansion of Carver and Columbus high school weight rooms, replacement of wooden bleachers throughout the district, upgrade Kinnett Stadium technology, scoreboard and lighting, and resurface Carver and Hardaway high school tracks.
▪ $15 million: Athletics complex for multiple sports and systemwide use, built to specifications that would allow MCSD to host more state championship events. It would be constructed next to Spencer High School and include a football/soccer stadium and tennis complex. This project also would include the $11 million from the current ESPLOST, which voters approved in 2015. But sales tax revenue has been less than expected, so this project was postponed.
▪ $13 million: Arnold Middle School modernization. Complete renovation.
▪ $4 million: Hardaway High School addition. New administration area and front entrance building with enhanced security and covered drop-off area. Upgrade student/athletics parking lot. Add concessions area to gymnasium.
▪ $4 million: Kendrick High School addition. Construct new administration area and front entrance area with enhanced security and covered drop-off area. Upgrade student/athletics parking lot.
▪ $3.5 million: Campus safety and security upgrades. Construct additional parking lots, where needed. Construct additional sidewalks and stairs to meet safety and accessibility needs. Install fencing to increase safety and security. Secure exterior building connectors.
▪ $3 million: Bond issue financing.
▪ $3 million: Columbus Museum upgrades. New collection storage vault. Interior renovations.
▪ $3 million: Furniture, fixtures and equipment throughout the district to replace outdated items.
▪ $3 million: Jordan Vocational High School College & Career Academy facility enhancements.
▪ $3 million: North Columbus Public Library replacement. It would be built at another location, yet to be announced.
▪ $2 million: School nutrition equipment replacements.
▪ $2 million: Stephen T. Butler STEAM Center upgrades. STEAM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering, arts and math.
▪ $1.5 million: Mathews Elementary School addition. Construct four new classrooms.
▪ $1.5 million: Playgrounds. Replacement all equipment.
▪ $1.5 million: Secondary science equipment and technology updates.
▪ $1 million: Columbus High School upgrades. Replace exterior stairs leading to the front entrance. Front driveway and gate security enhancements. Other exterior enhancements.
▪ $500,000: Veterans Memorial Middle School band room expansion.
This story was originally published June 10, 2020 at 12:44 PM.
