Dublin, Laurens County to vote on education sales tax

The Dublin and Laurens County school boards will ask voters in November to extend a one-cent sales tax for capital projects that include new schools in both districts.

The county board last week approved a joint resolution calling for the referendum. The city board discussed it briefly last week, but tabled a vote until it meets again.

According to the resolution, voters would decide on Nov. 4 whether to continue the ESPLOST (Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax). If passed, the tax would begin on Oct. 1, 2027 – or at the termination of the current educational sales tax – and would raise no more than $95 million.

The revenue would be split between the two school districts according to student enrollment, as of October 2025. Under the latest enrollment numbers, Laurens County would receive about 72.5 percent of the tax, or about $68.8 million, and Dublin would get up to approximately $21.6 million, or 27.5 percent.

The resolution lists how the money would be spent.

The county was more specific, itemizing three new construction projects, along with plans to use $9.9 million to retire an existing general obligation debt. The tax also would be used to build and equip the new East Laurens Elementary, a new athletic complex at East Laurens Middle and a new multipurpose athletic building for West Laurens High.

The resolution also includes the county “acquiring and improving existing schools within the system” and “constructing and renovating administrative and maintenance facilities.”

The city school board’s list is headlined by plans for “acquiring, constructing and equipping” a new elementary school. 

It also includes renovations and improvements to existing school buildings and facilities; the  “acquisition of real and personal property;” a multi-purpose athletic facility; and improvements to existing athletic facilities.

Both systems plan to use proceeds for improvements to existing schools and facilities; purchasing new buses, books and other instructional materials; and for security and safety upgrades.

The resolution also calls for excess proceeds after authorized projects and uses “shall be used solely for the purpose of reducing any indebtedness.” 

“In the event there is no indebtedness, such excess proceeds shall be used for the purpose of reducing the millage rate of the Laurens County School District or the Dublin School District in the amount equivalent to the amount of such excess proceeds,” the resolution reads.