Need to study up on info about ESPLOST

Laurens County Schools Superintendent Clifford Garnto told an audience that he could not tell them how to vote on the upcoming ESPLOST. We will not be doing that either.

This editorial is about encouraging voters to do their own work and look into this issue very carefully. When they enter the voting booth for early voting beginning on Oct. 14 and ending on Oct. 31 before having to go to the polls on election day on Nov. 4, they will be making the call about how education will be spent in our community.  

This is a reminder that ESPLOST can only be used to construct new schools, invest in safety for schools, renovate existing facilities, purchase new school buses and improve technology. It may also be used to pay off previous debt from previous issued bonds for capital projects (for example the new East Laurens High School and West Laurens Middle School). It cannot be used for day-to-day operations like salaries, utilities or normal maintenance.  

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This vote is important for many reasons and requires the necessary homework and for voters to look at the pros and cons before selecting yes or no.