EDITORIAL: Support ESPLOST with ‘yes’ vote

Published 2:27 pm Tuesday, March 4, 2025

Early voting is underway to decide on the extension of the 1-cent education sales tax. 

This is a penny tax that has been in place since 1995. It is not an additional tax but an existing one.

In recent years, funds generated through the sales tax have been used to renovate the board’s central office, the primary schools and athletic facilities. If approved by voters later this month, projects in this tax extension include additional renovations to the athletic fields and facilities, renovations at Lakeview Academy and the Early Learning Center, school buses and technology, fine arts and vocational equipment. 

With the costs for practically everything increasing, there has been a lot of public scrutiny regarding how local tax dollars are being spent — that’s certainly warranted. We should hold our elected leaders, including the board governing our public school system, accountable for how tax dollars are spent. However, it should also be noted that E-SPLOST (Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) funds cannot be used to cover employee salaries and benefits — the biggest portion of the school system’s budget. These funds can only be used for infrastructure projects and other school system needs unrelated to operations.

School systems all over the country are facing budget cuts and financial concerns as pandemic funds have ended and many grants that they receive are being eliminated due to federal cuts and government shrinkage.  With those factors considered, extending the E-SPLOST is the fairest, most responsible means to invest in public education.

The board of education has demonstrated through past sales tax projects that the school system can handle the sales tax funds responsibly and they have invested in needed projects. The board has been transparent in the past with how the sales tax dollars have been spent.

Completed projects include upgrades to the football stadium, security improvements at the main entrance of every school, HVAC replacements, technology, library improvements, cosmetic upgrades to all the schools and new school buses. BHS can once again host track meets because voters saw the need and extended this 1-cent tax. 

This isn’t a tax increase. It’s an extension of a penny tax that is already in place. SPLOST is a consumption tax that is applied to retail purchases, so the fiscal responsibility is spread out and doesn’t fall solely on local property owners. This “penny tax” will be paid by anyone who shops in Baldwin County, including out-of-towners. 

No one ever wants to hear about taxes. But please consider that this is a tax that has been in place for more than 25 years. It is not an additional bill. Sales taxes are more equitable because everyone who shops in Baldwin County pays a share, not just property owners or the people who live here. 

Early voting is underway Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. There is also a Saturday voting option on March 8 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Election Day is Tuesday, March 18. 

Please go vote and support the continuation of this tax.