EDlection2018: Georgia Voters Approve Amendment Empowering Large School Districts to Call Vote on New Sales Tax

EDlection2018: This is one of several dozen races we’ve analyzed for the 2018 midterms that could go on to influence state or federal education policy. Get the latest headlines delivered straight to your inbox; sign up for The 74 Newsletter.

Georgia voters overwhelmingly approved an amendment to the state Constitution Tuesday that alters the way school districts can drive education funding.

Amendment 5 allows the largest school district, or districts, in a county to call a vote to levy a 1 percent sales tax for education purposes — without smaller school districts’ approval. The previous setup required consensus among all districts.

The measure was approved, 71 percent to 29 percent, with 82 percent of precincts reporting, according to The New York Times.

The change is only relevant to counties that have more than one public school system within them, such as the city of Atlanta’s school system and Fulton County Public Schools. Without this amendment, smaller districts were able to “hold the larger districts hostage” on a possible referendum in hopes of securing more tax proceeds, state Sen. Lindsey Tippins has said.

Districts will still split generated tax revenue based on student enrollment, unless otherwise agreed upon. The sales tax could not be imposed for more than five years.

EDlection2018: This is one of several dozen races we’ve analyzed for the 2018 midterms that could go on to influence state or federal education policy. Get the latest headlines delivered straight to your inbox; sign up for The 74 Newsletter.

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