The Clarke County Board of Education adopted a resolution June 11, 2026, setting a referendum for Nov. 3, 2026, that would ask Athens-Clarke County voters to renew a 1% educational sales and use tax to fund capital outlay projects for the Clarke County School District.
The renewal, if approved, would be imposed for a period not to exceed twenty consecutive calendar quarters (five years), beginning immediately upon the expiration of the current educational sales tax. The ballot language states the tax would be used for acquiring, constructing and equipping specified capital projects and would raise no more than $215,000,000.
What the measure would fund
The referendum lists construction, renovation, repairs, improvements and equipment for existing educational, administrative and service buildings, and other capital needs based on enrollment and enrollment trends. The notice names numerous schools and facilities across the district, including elementary, middle and high schools, the Athens Community Career Academy, an Early Learning Center, athletic facilities and transportation needs.
- Duration: up to 20 quarters (5 years) starting after current tax ends
- Maximum authorized revenue: $215,000,000
- Purpose: capital outlay projects — construction, renovation, equipment, and related facilities
Schools and facilities identified
The ballot question specifically references a broad list of district sites that could benefit from the tax proceeds, including but not limited to:
- Bettye Henderson Holston Elementary School
- Barnett Shoals Elementary School
- David C. Barrow Elementary School
- Johnnie Lay Burks Elementary School
- Cleveland Road Elementary School
- Fowler Drive Elementary School
- West Broad School Complex
- Howard B. Stroud Elementary School
- Judia J. Harris Elementary School
- Gaines Elementary School (current and former facility)
- Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary School
- Timothy Road, Whit Davis, Whitehead Road and Winterville elementary schools
- Burney-Harris-Lyons, Clarke, W.R. Coile and Hilsman middle schools
- Cedar Shoals, Clarke Central and Classic City high schools
- Athens Community Career Academy, Early Learning Center, athletic facilities and transportation
"Shall a one percent sales and use tax for educational purposes be imposed, levied and collected…for the purposes of acquiring, constructing and equipping the following capital outlay projects?"
What voters should know before Election Day
The Athens-Clarke County Board of Elections and Registration, acting as Election Superintendent, issued the call for the Nov. 3 election following the school board resolution. Voters will be asked to approve the tax renewal in a single yes-or-no question on the ballot.
Passage would continue a funding stream the district has used to pay for facility improvements; a failure would mean the district must consider alternate funding sources for capital needs. The ballot language confines authorized spending to capital outlay purposes and sets an explicit maximum of $215 million.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tax rate | 1% sales and use tax for education |
| Duration | Up to 20 quarters (5 years) |
| Maximum revenue | $215,000,000 |
| Uses | Acquiring, constructing, renovating, equipping school facilities and related capital needs |
Election officials will publish further details about voter registration, polling locations and absentee voting procedures as the election approaches. Residents interested in how the district plans to prioritize projects funded by the tax should watch for the Clarke County School District’s communications and budget documents, which typically outline proposed uses of SPLOST and educational sales tax proceeds.
The question before voters on Nov. 3 will determine whether the district can continue relying on the one percent educational sales tax for major capital projects for the next five years.
