By Jyot Singh, GMS&T, Class of 2017
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. | I am a proud product of Gwinnett County Public Schools, and I was lucky enough to see the impact of our community’s commitment firsthand. From my first day of middle school to graduating from a leading Gwinnett high school in 2017, I spent many years learning, growing, and thriving in spaces built, maintained, and modernized by one simple, yet powerful, idea: the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, or E-SPLOST.
When Gwinnett voters head to the polls this November 4, 2025, they won’t just be voting on better facilities and safer schools; they’ll be voting to continue a legacy of excellence and fiscal responsibility that directly benefits every student.
As an alumnus who moved through the GCPS system, the improvements funded by E-SPLOST weren’t abstract concepts—they were part of my daily life. Specifically, E-SPLOST ensured that the best available digital tools supported my entire GCPS journey.
I was part of the generation that benefited from modern technology, where we had access to the latest laptops and cutting-edge engineering and design software. This cutting-edge technology wasn’t just a convenience. It transformed how we learned, fostering collaboration and preparing us for college and careers in the ever-evolving digital age. This was all because of E-SPLOST!
Beyond technology, E-SPLOST funded the essential, unglamorous work that keeps our learning environments healthy and safe. It paid for new, efficient HVAC systems that meant we weren’t shivering in the winter or sweating through the final exams in the spring, especially in our buses.
This year’s renewal of the penny tax will also provide extensive renovations across the district, critical funding for extensive safety and security upgrades across all campuses, and help expand classrooms to ensure teachers can get more one-on-one time with students with smaller class sizes.
But E-SPLOST is not just about buildings and buses; it’s about smart financial planning that benefits every taxpayer.
Unlike some past funding methods, the proposed E-SPLOST renewal on November 4th will ensure our future school construction projects are funded 100 percent debt-free. This commitment ensures continued fiscal responsibility and saves taxpayers millions of dollars on unnecessary interest payments. Furthermore, by funding all capital needs through the sales tax, E-SPLOST keeps the burden off property owners, helping GCPS substantially lower its property tax millage rate over the past several years.
Everyone who visits and buys in Gwinnett helps pay for all of these improvements!
Without E-SPLOST, the cost of replacing roofs, upgrading technology, and building new classrooms would fall entirely back onto property taxes, inevitably causing a major
increase. A “Yes” vote is a vote for stability, safety, and continued world-class learning spaces. It is a vote to build the new CTAE (Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education) high school facility, replace aging buses, and ensure our students continue to have the best technology available.
As a grateful graduate who saw the positive changes evolve year after year, I urge every resident, whether you have children in the system or not, to vote “Yes” on E-SPLOST this November 4.
Let’s continue to build a future where every Gwinnett student has the facilities and resources they need to succeed.
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