HABERSHAM COUNTY, Ga. — With early informational meetings already underway, Partnership Habersham and school leaders will continue a series of town halls in the coming weeks to brief residents on the proposed ESPLOST VII renewal ahead of the May 19 referendum.
The remaining sessions are scheduled for:
- May 6, 5:30–7 p.m. at Mt. Airy Town Hall
- May 7, 5:30–7 p.m. at Common Ground in Cornelia
- May 14, 5:30–7 p.m. at Alto Town Hall
All meetings are open to the public and are intended to provide an overview of the proposed one-cent Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, commonly referred to as ESPLOST, along with an opportunity for residents to ask questions.
The referendum on the May ballot is a renewal of the existing ESPLOST, not a new tax. School officials have said the continuation of the penny sales tax plays a key role in maintaining a lower property tax burden while funding major capital needs.
According to previous reporting, ESPLOST VII would fund a range of projects across Habersham County Schools, including facility upgrades, safety improvements, technology enhancements and long-term growth planning. District leaders have emphasized that the sales tax allows the system to address infrastructure needs without relying as heavily on property tax increases.
Superintendent Patrick Franklin and other school leaders have also tied the renewal to broader financial stability, noting that ESPLOST revenue helps offset debt service and supports efforts to keep the system’s millage rate lower than it otherwise would be.
The town hall series is part of an outreach effort to ensure voters understand how the funding mechanism works and how the proposed revenue would be used if approved.
Voters will decide the measure May 19.
