ELECTION 2023
Jones County voters approved the renewal of the county’s Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax in last week’s special election.
The ballot for the March 21 election had only one item, which was the continuation of the one-cent tax for the purpose of the support, construction and renovation of Jones County schools.
The turnout for the special election was not huge, with 798 casting ballots out of more than 20,000 registered voters or approximately 4 percent. The support of those casting their votes, however, was strong with 701 voting to approve the continuation of the ESPLOST. That equates to an 88 percent approval rate.
Elections Superintendent Marion Hatton said the special election results were certified Friday morning.
The county’s first ESPLOST was approved in 1998. Since its approval, some of the big projects the sales tax funds have paid for is the construction of Clifton Ridge Middle School, Dames Ferry Elementary, Wells Primary School, Turner Woods Elementary, Gray Station Middle School and the new Gray Elementary School.
Without the one-cent sales tax, those constructions would have been on the backs of Jones County taxpayers.
Funds from the newly renewed ESPLOST are anticipated at $23,000,000 and will be used for the purposes of acquiring, constructing, repairing, improving, renovating, furnishing and/or equipping school buildings and/or infrastructure in the Jones County School District, as stated on the March 21 election ballot.
It is notable that specified renovations include Clifton Ridge and Dames Ferry that were constructed with the funds.
ESPLOST funds are used, among other ways, to support education, acquiring textbooks and technology, safety, security and fire protection.
Jones County Board of Education Chairman Ginger Bailey thanked the community on behalf of the board.
“Thank you for coming out in support of our children’s education and helping us to provide a safe place for our children to learn,” she said.
Board of Education member Dr. Nancy Nash said she was thankful for the Jones County community and the continued support of education by its residents.
“I’m proud to be a member of the Board of Education, and I want to do my best to be responsive to our citizens as to how money is spent for our school system,” Nash said.
School Superintendent Charles Lundy also thanked the voters in Jones County for the overwhelming support they have given to the Jones County School System.
“Any time the voting results for an ESPLOST are at an almost 90 percent approval rating, I think it shows the trust and confidence the voters have in our school board, our building-level leaders and more importantly the teachers that we have in our system,” he said.
Board members wasted no time in utilizing the funds approved by the voters. They held a meeting March 28 to approve the issuance of general obligation funds in an amount up to $8 million to pay for the renovation project for Dames Ferry Elementary.
Lundy said the ESPLOST funds would be used along with $2 million in state funds to complete the $9.5 million project.
