E-SPLOST Passes in Stephens Co.

Stephens County voters approve a renewal of the county’s E-SPLOST.

By more than a four-to-one margin on Tuesday, the county’s voters said “yes” to a five-year continuation of the one-cent Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax for Education.

The final, unofficial vote tally was 833 votes in favor of the E-SPLOST, or 83.89 percent, to 160 votes in opposition, or 16.11 percent.

Stephens County School Superintendent Bryan Dorsey said that the school system and the Board of Education appreciate the county’s support in passing the E-SPLOST.

“We are just very excited to have this kind of community support for our young people and our programs,” said Dorsey. “We are very grateful for that.”

According to Dorsey, the revenues generated from the renewal of the E-SPLOST would go towards maintenance and technology needs throughout the system, as well as CTAE renovations at the high school.

“We are incredibly appreciative of the support the community shows our teachers and our staff and we hope to be very good stewards of these funds,” said Dorsey.

Turnout was light at the polls for the E-SPLOST election, with only 242 people casting ballots on Tuesday and less than 1000 people turning out overall.

Stephens County Registrar Bill Cochran said there were no problems at the Senior Center Tuesday during voting.

“The team that runs the polls do an excellent job,” said Cochran. “Everything went very smoothly. No problems at all.”

Cochran said he appreciates all of the poll workers who helped both on Tuesday, as well as throughout the preceding three weeks of early voting at the Stephens County Registrar’s Office.