The May 19 primary elections are less than a month away, and one issue impacting funding for local school systems is back on the ballot in Hall County.
The Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) is a one-penny sales tax that is used to fund school buildings, safety upgrades, technology, and other long term-capital needs.
ESPLOST was first passed in Hall County in 1997. The sales tax must be voted on every five years. The Hall County Board of Education approved a resolution to place the extension of the tax on the ballot in January of this year. 2026 marks the seventh time it has been put on the ballot.
According to the 2026 sample ballot, ESPLOST may generate a maximum of $400,000,000 within the five-year collection period. Revenue generated from ESPLOST collection is split based on enrollment between the three school districts in the area: Hall County, Gainesville City and Buford City schools…