Northview High School's aging HVAC system sent smoke into the visitor's locker room and forced two evacuations in January 2024. The money to replace it could come from a ballot question Fulton County commissioners formally locked in on Wednesday, Aug. 5.
The Board of Commissioners approved an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Atlanta and the county's Registration & Elections office to place the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, known as ESPLOST, before voters on Nov. 3. The item passed on the consent agenda without separate discussion.
What the tax would fund locally
The referendum asks voters to reimpose the existing 1-cent sales tax beginning July 1, 2027, when the current ESPLOST expires. Over five years, it would raise up to $2.09 billion countywide. Of that, up to $1.306 billion would flow to Fulton County Schools capital projects, with the split between FCS and Atlanta Public Schools determined by student enrollment ratios.
All three Johns Creek high schools are named in the Call for Election project list, formally issued July 22:
- Johns Creek High School is designated for replacement, renovation and equipping of critical systems, infrastructure and safety systems based on documented deficiencies.
- Chattahoochee High School and Northview High School are listed under broader capital improvements covering HVAC, roofing, plumbing, electrical, ADA renovations, fire alarms and security upgrades.
The project list also includes districtwide technology upgrades, security cameras, school buses, classroom furniture and two replacement elementary schools.
Why a sales tax, not a property tax hike
Fulton County Schools CFO Marvin Dereef told the school board at its May 6 meeting that ESPLOST is "a pay-as-you-go option with no interest cost," unlike bonds or millage increases. The district's Capital Plan 2032, approved by the board in June, totals approximately $1.319 billion and relies primarily on the sales tax revenue.
Because the tax already exists, approval would continue it rather than create a new levy. Shoppers in Johns Creek already pay the penny; a "yes" vote keeps it in place for another five years.
What voters need to know
- Registration deadline: Oct. 5, 2026
- Early voting begins: Oct. 13, 2026
- Absentee ballot application deadline: Oct. 23, 2026
- Election Day: Nov. 3, 2026, polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
No per-school dollar amounts have been published. The $1.306 billion FCS allocation covers all district facilities, and specific breakdowns for Johns Creek High, Chattahoochee High or Northview High are not yet available.
