E-SPLOST V approved by Hall County voters

GAINESVILLE - Hall County voters have voted to extend the current penny sales tax for education, with 74% of participating voters supporting E-SPLOST V.
 
The county has had a similar penny sales tax in place for the last 18 years, with the approval of the initial E-SPLOST referendum coming in 1997.
 
E-SPLOST V revenue will be divided among three school districts: Hall County, the City of Gainesville and the City of Buford.
 
Earlier this year, education officials said E-SPLOST V, which will be in place for the next five years and raise no more than $195 million, is expected to generate between $110-140 million dollars for the three districts.
 
Hall County Schools Superintendent Will Schofield said late Tuesday evening that he was excited for the outcome and grateful for the community's support.
 
"We're just extremely pleased for the results tonight," he said. "It's just an honor to work and to live in a community that supports education the way that we do here in Hall County."
 
Schofield's sentiment was echoed by Gainesville Schools Superintendent Wanda Creel, who expressed her gratitude to the voters who turned out to support education in the area.
 
"I just want to tell the voters of Hall County that we are grateful for their coming out to the polls, and the decision to help support our students and our schools systems [in] Hall County, Gainesville and Buford in moving ahead to continue to provide those capital outlay funds," she said.
 
The previous interations of E-SPLOST were used to pay off long-term debt, which officials note has been accomplished. As a result, E-SPLOST V will be used primarily to construct new schools, renovate pre-exisiting structures and add new technological improvements to classrooms across all three districts.