It is election season, and from the ballot this fall, Lamar County voters will have a decision to make about its investment in its children. The Lamar County Board of Education is encouraging citizens to vote “Yes” for the renewal of the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, better known as ESPLOST, a one-cent sales tax that has shaped the funding of Lamar County Schools for several years.
Lamar County voters have a long history of supporting the ESPLOST. According to Superintendent Dr. Jessica Watson, that commitment has allowed the school district to keep up with enrollment growth, maintain its facilities, and ensure students learn in safe environments. The next renewal, ESPLOST VIII, will appear on the ballot November 4, 2025. Citizens can vote early now through Friday, October 31.
EPLOST Explained
ESPLOST is a one-cent sales tax collected in Lamar County to fund capital improvements for the school system. The school system wants the public to know that this is not a new or additional tax for the people of Lamar County, but a continuation of the same penny that has been making a difference in Lamar County Schools for years.
In addition, this tax is paid by everyone who shops, eats, or does business in Lamar County. This includes visitors who do not live in Lamar County. This option allows those who do not own property to share in the responsibility of funding various school system needs by spreading the cost across all consumers.
To clarify, ESPLOST funds cannot be used to pay salaries or support daily operations. Instead, they go directly to projects such as building improvements, technology upgrades, transportation, and student safety enhancements. This means the impact of ESPLOST is easy to see across the community and felt every day by the students of Lamar County Schools.
Athletic facilities have seen upgrades to playing surfaces, press boxes, stadium seating, and locker rooms. Technology investments have provided Smart Boards, Chromebooks, teacher desktops, and improved Wi-Fi connectivity. Other funds have supported new buses, playgrounds, energy efficient lighting, fencing for safety, band uniforms, musical instruments, and over 21 acres of land purchased for future growth.
The Growing Needs of Lamar County Schools
As Lamar County continues to grow, so does its student population. In the past two years, enrollment has risen by nearly 9%, adding 232 students. This growth will require new classrooms, expanded common areas, additional buses, and updated technology and equipment. Without ESPLOST, these costs will fall on local property taxpayers.
A renewal of the ESPLOST would allow Lamar County Schools to fund new classrooms, safety and security improvements, new school buses, playground improvements, and facility upgrades at all schools, including new bleachers and a gym floor at Lamar County Middle School.
Thriving on a Lean Budget
How does Lamar County Schools compare with other districts of comparable size? Lamar County operates with one of the lowest per-pupil expenditures in Georgia—$10,477 per student, well below the averages of similar counties.
Some residents have concerns that the school system overspends or overtaxes. Such concerns are common in any community, but the figures above offer a perspective that challenges that view. Lamar County’s budget remains among the most efficient in the state for a district of its size. Despite operating lean, Lamar’s schools have continued to add students, improve facilities, and show academic progress.
For example, Lamar County High School’s graduation rate of 88.5% is above the state average, and the 2025 Georgia Milestones scores showed gains or steady performance in 16 of 19 assessments. Nearly 70% of students in grades 4–8 demonstrated typical or high growth, and scores were greater than pre-COVID levels in most tested areas. Lamar County Schools believes that strong schools strengthen communities, attract new families, and increase local economic activity.
In its recent press release, Lamar County Schools closed with this statement:
As a school system, Lamar County Schools cannot tell you how to vote, but voters should be informed before they visit the polls. In short, ESPLOST allows Lamar County Schools to maintain safe, modern, and competitive learning environments while keeping property taxes steady.
Grant Turner is the editor of the Barnesville Buzz and an educator, coach, and writer based in Barnesville, Georgia. He shares stories that bridge community, faith, and personal growth. In addition to teaching and coaching, Grant is Director of Musical Worship and a Sunday School teacher at New Hope Baptist Church in Zebulon, Georgia. He lives in Barnesville with his wife, Haley.
