Bulloch Co. Board of Education Places E-SPLOST VI on Nov. 4 ballot

This is a press release from the Bulloch County Board of Education.

Referendum seeks continuation of one-penny sales tax for schools; Register to vote by Oct. 6

Registered voters in Bulloch County will have the privilege to cast their votes in the 2025 General Election on Tuesday, November 4. On the ballot, voters will see a question that asks if they want to continue the current one-penny education sales tax for five more years. Voters can learn more at bullochschools.org/esplost.
This education special purpose local option sales tax(E-SPLOST) only exists for a five-year period and must be periodically voted on by Bulloch County’s registered voters. Bulloch County Schools is currently in its fifth E-SPLOST cycle, which will end on December 31, 2027.

At its August 14, 2025 regular session, the Board of Education voted to place the referendum on the ballot. If approved, this will be E-SPLOST VI, and it would be active January 1, 2028 through December 31, 2032.

It is currently estimated that one penny of sales tax revenues is the equivalent of five mills of property tax revenues. The alternative to a sales tax is an increase in property taxes, which are paid by Bulloch County property owners.

Bulloch County is considered a retail and tourism hub for the region. It is also home to Georgia Southern University, which serves students from across the state and nation who shop locally. The Board of Education has leveraged these factors and used ESPLOSTs since 2003, to fund capital improvement needs for local public schools. The previous education sales taxes (1 to 5) have funded the new construction and renovation of schools and athletic facilities, safety and technology infrastructure, school buses, and other equipment for Bulloch County’s public schools.

How will the E-SPLOST revenue be used?

1. Construction of a new Southeast Bulloch High School and renovation of feeder schools for Southeast Bulloch High School. By doing this, the school district is only building one new school and reorganizing the others to take the most efficient approach to meeting student needs and utilizing taxpayer resources as our community grows. The district, through the collection of E-SPLOST V funds, currently only has half of the resources needed to begin construction of this new school. If approved, the E-SPLOST VI funds will be used to move forward with construction of the new Southeast Bulloch High School, which will take three to four years to complete.
2. Purchase of curriculum materials, technology infrastructure and equipment, school buses, school nutrition equipment, furniture and equipment for schools, and necessary costs associated with renovating facilities so that they do not fall into disrepair.  By utilizing E-SPLOST funds for these items, the district will alleviate the need to pay for them through its General Fund, which is funded by property taxes.  It is estimated that up to an additional two mills of property tax will be needed if E-SPLOST funds are not available and these expenditures are pushed back to the General Fund. Citizen feedback during the school district’s budget and millage rate process earlier this year  emphasized the preference for sales taxes over property taxes when possible.
3. Purchase of mobile classrooms to address temporary needs for classroom space across the district until permanent facilities can be built.
4. Construction and equipping of a new multi-purpose facility at Statesboro High School so that this school has adequate program space to meet the needs of students.
5. Construction and equipping of a new gymnasium facility at Portal Middle and High School so that this school has adequate space to meet the program needs of students.
6. Construction and equipping of two new school facilities for Pre-Kindergarten through Eighth Grade students across the district, location to be determined later, to address future population growth. By building Pre-Kindergarten through eighth-grade schools, the school district is taking a flexible approach to meeting student needs and utilizing taxpayer resources as our community changes.
7. Purchase of land for future school sites.

Important Voter Registration & Voting Dates

• October 6: Last day to register to vote or make changes to your name or address if you plan to vote in the Nov. 4, 2025 General Election.
• October 14 to October 31: Early voting in Bulloch County begins. It includes two Saturdays, October 18 and October 25.
• November 4, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.: General Election Day