Dear friends,
What is the most important reason to support the upcoming ESPLOST referendum for education? The one cent sales tax impacts every student in every school within the Emanuel County School System. Since 1997, Emanuel County voters have seen the wisdom in passing the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, known as ESPLOST. Why? From purchasing school buses to textbooks, the special tax is paid by anyone making purchases in Emanuel County including those who live outside of Emanuel County. Roughly speaking, it is estimated that between 25% to 30% of those paying the tax live outside of Emanuel County. Keeping the tax in place makes good business sense and remember, the tax money stays here at home. The new tax will pay for a myriad of educational benefits that are badly needed. The tax will pay for new textbooks, upgrades to technology, new lab equipment, upgrades to safety systemwide, new school buses, new music equipment and uniforms, and help pay for the completion of the Early Learning Center. One other major reason for support is the money will also pay debt on previous bonds issued for education, thus saving additional interest expenses for the system. This new referendum, if passed, will pick up immediately following the old referendum completion. At no time will Emanuel County citizens be doubled taxed. As a former school board member and editor & publisher of The Swainsboro Forest-Blade, I saw the immediate and long-range benefits of having this tax in place. It really does impact every student in every school within the system. I am most appreciative of the wisdom shown by Emanuel County citizens in previous ESPLOST referendums, and I hope you will join me in supporting this new ESPLOST referendum on Tuesday November 2, 2021. Sincerely Bill Rogers Jr.
