A referendum on a special sales tax for educational purposes will be held.

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NOTICE OF REFERENDUM
TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS Of FRANKLIN COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, GEORGIA
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on the 19th day of May, 2026, a special election will be held at the regular polling places in all the election districts of Franklin County at which time there will be submitted to the qualified voters of Franklin County for their determination the question of whether a special sales and use tax for educational purposes of one percent shall be levied, imposed and collected on all sales and uses in Franklin County for a period of time not to exceed twenty (20) calendar quarters, beginning with the calendar quarter following the calendar quarter in which the sales and use tax for educational purposes presently in effect expires, and for the purpose of raising not more than $52,000,000 of net proceeds by said tax, which shall go to the School District for the purpose of (i) constructing, renovating and equipping athletic facilities; (ii) constructing and equipping a gymnasium and agricultural exposition center at Franklin County High School; (iii) adding to, renovating, repairing, improving, acquiring and equipping school buildings and school system facilities; (iv) acquiring miscellaneous new equipment, fixtures and furnishings for the school system, including computer technology equipment, computer software, school buses and other vehicles, transportation and maintenance equipment, and security and safety equipment; (v) acquiring land or improving land for new or existing schools; (vi) acquiring textbooks, e-books, and e-book readers for the school system, with the maximum cost of the projects described in items (i)-(vi) payable from said tax being $52,000,000; (vii) paying any general obligation debt of the School District issued in conjunction with the imposition of such sales and use tax; and (viii) paying the expenses incident to accomplish the foregoing.
If the continuation of the tax is approved by the voters, such vote shall also constitute approval of the issuance of general obligation debt of the Franklin County School District in the aggregate principal amount of $24,000,000 for the above purposes that may be funded with proceeds of general obligation debt, including paying capitalized interest and the costs of issuing the debt.
The ballots to be used at such referendum shall have written or printed thereon substantially the following:
________ Yes

________ No

Shall a special one percent sales and use tax for educational purposes be continued in Franklin County for a period not to exceed twenty (20) calendar quarters beginning upon expiration of the sales and use tax for educational purposes presently in effect, and for the purpose of raising not more than $52,000,000 of net proceeds by said tax, which shall go to the School District for the purpose of (i) constructing, renovating and equipping athletic facilities; (ii) constructing and equipping a gymnasium and agricultural exposition center at Franklin County High School; (iii) adding to, renovating, repairing, improving, acquiring and equipping school buildings and school system facilities; (iv) acquiring miscellaneous new equipment, fixtures and furnishings for the school system, including computer technology equipment, computer software, school buses and other vehicles, transportation and maintenance equipment, and security and safety equipment; (v) acquiring land or improving land for new or existing schools; (vi) acquiring textbooks, e-books, and e-book readers for the school system, with the maximum cost of the projects described in items (i)-(vi) payable from said tax being $52,000,000; (vii) paying any general obligation debt of the School District issued in conjunction with the imposition of such sales and use tax; and (viii) paying the expenses incident to accomplish the foregoing.
If the imposition of the tax is approved by the voters, such vote shall also constitute approval of the issuance of general obligation debt of Franklin County School District in the principal amount of $24,000,000 for the purposes of the Franklin County School District described in items (i)-(vi) and (viii) above and for the purpose of payment of a portion of the interest on such debt.
If the imposition of such tax is approved by the voters, such vote shall also constitute approval of the issuance of general obligation debt by the Franklin County School District in the aggregate principal amount not to exceed $24,000,000 for the purposes of the Franklin County School District described in items (i) - (vi) and (viii) above and for the purpose of payment of a portion of the interest on such debt. The maximum rate of interest such general obligation debt will bear is not to exceed 6.0% per annum, and the aggregate amount of principal to be paid in each year during the life of such debt will be as follows:
YearPrincipal to be Paid
2029$4,345,000
20304,560,000
20314,790,000
20325,025,000
20335,280,000
Any brochures, listings, or other advertisements issued by the Franklin County Board of Education, or by any other person, firm, corporation, or association with the knowledge and consent of the Board of Education, shall be deemed to be a statement of intention of the Board of Education concerning the use of the proceeds of the general obligation debt to be issued in connection with the sales and use tax for educational purposes.
The several places for holding said referendum shall be at the regular and established voting precincts of the election districts of Franklin County, Georgia, and the polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on the date fixed for the referendum. All polling places will be open.
The last day to register to vote in this referendum shall be April 20, 2026, through 5:00 p.m. Mail voter registration applications must be postmarked on or before April 20, 2026.
Those residents of Franklin County qualified to vote at such referendum shall be determined in all respects in accordance with the election laws of the State of Georgia.
This notice is given pursuant to a resolution of the Franklin County Board of Education adopted on February 5, 2026.
This 6th day of February, 2026.
/s/Tonya BridgesElections Supervisor
#906672-5/14