Bibb schools exceed cap on education tax, seek new $250M measure

The Bibb County School District has received $197,257,488.30 from the state for its Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, exceeding its allotted cap of $185 million, according to state reports.

The district began collecting the tax in 2021 after more of than 75% of voters approved it in 2019. It goes toward funding capital projects, including renovations and technology upgrades.

According to the district’s July 31 ESPLOST report, the district collected a total of $189,950,570.95 and at that time had already spent $138,430,153 in project expenditures.

A state tax report showed the district received a total of $193,389,174.05 as of July 31 and another disbursement of $3,868,314.25 on August 31.

The state will cease collecting the ESPLOST at the beginning of October, school district spokesperson Stephanie Hartley wrote in an email to The Melody.

Joseph Snowden with the Georgia Department of Revenue wrote in an email to The Melody that when a local government or school district exceeds the cap on a sales tax, it can retain those funds if certain conditions are met. The cap can be exceeded because of quarterly rate changes impacting collections, state officials said.

If all projects are fulfilled, the extra funds can be added to the school district’s general fund for the purpose of “reducing any indebtedness” and “reducing ad valorem taxes,” according to state law. 

“The District will follow legal guidelines regarding any additional funds collected by the state,” Hartley wrote. “Updated ESPLOST information will be included in the District’s regular monthly financial reports.”

It’s unclear if the district meets the state’s requirements to move the excess funds to its general fund. In August, board members voted to raise property taxes.

The district spent $53 million of collected funds for school renovations and $12 million on staff computers and mobile devices. The district also used ESPLOST money for new buses and renovations to Thompson Stadium.

District officials originally planned to use $20 million of the collected funds to build a new fine arts center, but those plans were canceled because of increased construction costs and similar facilities being built around the district, according to information from an advisory committee guiding spending efforts.

The district hopes to pass a new ESPLOST for 2026. Voters will decide on the Nov. 4 ballot if the district’s plan to collect $250 million through that tax will proceed.

Assistant Superintendent of Operations Sam Kitchens presented a list of projects that could be funded by the new tax at the school board’s Aug. 21 meeting. That wishlist includes security and classroom technology upgrades and renovations to several schools, including Porter Elementary and L.H. Williams Elementary.

Those schools were previously considered for closure by district officials.

Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning upgrades account for a large chunk of those proposed renovations, Kitchens said in a previous interview with The Melody.