By Nick Masino
President and CEO, Gwinnett Chamber and Partnership Gwinnett
DULUTH, Ga. | It’s no secret that Gwinnett boasts the lowest sales tax rate among metro counties. What may surprise some is how strategically we’ve structured it so that visitors and shoppers from across the region and out of state help foot the bill for the quality of life we all enjoy.
That’s the beauty of E-SPLOST, the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. It’s not glamorous, it’s not political, and it’s not new. It’s practical. And it has been keeping our schools, and by extension our entire economy, running smoothly for decades.
According to the latest study by Tourism Economics, visitors spent roughly $1.17 billion in Gwinnett County in 2024, generating about $99.5 million in state and local tax revenues. That means people who don’t even live here are helping us maintain our schools, parks, and community spaces. They come for concerts at Gas South District, to shop at the Mall of Georgia, to float down the Chattahoochee River, or to grab dinner in downtown Lawrenceville. In total, that visitor activity translates into about $303 in annual household tax relief for Gwinnett residents.
That’s an impressive investment that flows through our economy from people who live outside Gwinnett. And this is how E-SPLOST allows us to share the cost of maintaining top-tier schools with tourists instead of shifting the entire burden to local homeowners. It’s one penny at a time, and it’s paying big dividends.
Let’s also clear up a myth. E-SPLOST doesn’t fund personnel buyouts or backpack mandates. It funds the things that keep a school running: HVAC systems, roof repairs, and the buses that safely carry more than 182,000 students every single day. These are the essentials that keep classrooms comfortable, campuses safe, and kids focused on learning instead of leaky ceilings. Without E-SPLOST, the cost to maintain this infrastructure shifts entirely to residential taxes, and that’s a bill none of us want to see.
I spend a lot of time talking with CEOs and site selectors, and do you know the first question they ask when considering a move to Gwinnett? “How are your schools?” They don’t ask about tax rates or road miles first; they ask about education.
That’s because strong schools mean a strong workforce. E-SPLOST helps us sustain the quality facilities that support exceptional education, which in turn helps recruit and retain world-class talent and employers. When we say Gwinnett is where business thrives, E-SPLOST is one of the quiet engines behind that success.
This vote isn’t about raising taxes. It’s about continuing the system that’s already working. Renewing E-SPLOST simply extends the same rate that has built and maintained our schools for years. And as a proud parent of three GCPS graduates, I’ve seen firsthand how these investments pay off. Every penny builds potential. Every project keeps Gwinnett strong.
So, when you head to the polls, remember this: it’s a renewal, not new. Vote yes to continue sharing the cost with visitors enjoying our restaurants, concerts, and parks. Vote yes to keep Gwinnett at the top of its game. Vote yes because it truly is the smartest penny you’ll ever invest.
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