Voters in Cobb County, Ga., have voted to continue a 1-cent sales tax that will provide an estimated $860 million over the next five years for school facilities.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the funds will enable the Cobb County and Marietta school districts to move forward with hundreds of new school projects.
“I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to the voters of Cobb County for their continued support of our school district,” Cobb County Superintendent Chris Ragsdale said on the district's web site.
The renewal of the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, known as SPLOST V, authorizes the sales tax from 2019 through 2023. Cobb, the Georgia's second-largest school district, would get about $797 million from the sales tax, and Marietta’s school district would get about $62.5 million.
Referendum supporters said much of the the tax collections would come from people outside the county visiting attractions such as Six Flags and the new Atlanta Braves ballpark.
Cobb County has budgeted the funds this way:
- New or Replacement Facilities $165 million
- Additions and Modifications $206 million
- Infrastructure and Individual School Needs $103 million
- Safety, Security, and Support $150 million
- Academic/Technology $173 million
