DeKalb County voters will decide whether to renew a 1-cent sales tax that funds school construction and renovation when early voting opens Tuesday, Oct. 13.

The measure, known as ESPLOST VII, would raise up to $1.05 billion across three school districts over five years starting July 1, 2027. The DeKalb County School District would receive up to $946.8 million for building upgrades, new schools, technology and buses, according to the county's sample ballot.

A yes vote would also authorize up to $500 million in general obligation debt to fund a portion of those projects.

The tax is not a property tax increase. It is a 1-cent sales tax paid by anyone who makes purchases in DeKalb County. The current ESPLOST expires July 1, 2027, and the new measure would replace it for up to 20 consecutive calendar quarters.

What the money would fund

The school board approved the ESPLOST VII resolution at a June 1 called meeting, according to a district newsletter. At a Sept. 16 board meeting, district officials presented project options that included 14 roof replacements at $50 million to $65 million and 20 HVAC replacements at $100 million to $120 million, Decaturish reported. The options also included fire alarm upgrades at $15 million and fine arts facility enhancements at $20 million.

Several projects are deferred work from earlier ESPLOST rounds. Chief of Capital Improvement Darrell Stallings told Decaturish the district may review and propose project recommendations annually to avoid the deferrals and cancellations that plagued ESPLOST V and VI.

Dunwoody cluster schools face changes

ESPLOST VII funds could support capital projects tied to the district's separate Student Assignment Project, which plans new and expanded schools opening from 2027 to 2029. According to the district's project page, overcrowded schools in the Dunwoody, Chamblee, Lakeside, Cross Keys, Tucker and Druid Hills clusters are all affected.

In the project's Round 2 scenarios, Chesnut Elementary is proposed for a capacity expansion. Hightower Elementary would be rebuilt on its current site. Vanderlyn Elementary is proposed for conversion to a Dunwoody High School annex, and Kingsley Elementary could close or be repurposed, according to district planning documents. Peachtree Middle School and Dunwoody High School would see no change in use.

The specific list of Dunwoody and Brookhaven schools slated for ESPLOST VII-funded roof or HVAC work has not been released publicly.

How and where to vote

Early voting runs Oct. 13 through Friday, Oct. 30, at 22 locations across DeKalb County. Weekday hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday voting is available Oct. 17 and Oct. 24 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday voting Oct. 18 and Oct. 25 from noon to 6 p.m., according to the county's early voting schedule.

The Dunwoody Library at 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road is both an early voting site and a ballot drop box location.

State Sen. Sally Harrell, whose District 40 covers parts of Dunwoody and Brookhaven, wrote in her Oct. 8 newsletter that voters "might be surprised to find some local votes, such as ESPLOST in DeKalb County" on their sample ballots.

Brookhaven voters will also see a separate question on the Nov. 3 ballot asking whether to increase the homestead exemption for senior citizens and disabled persons from $160,000 to $200,000.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. The last day to request an absentee ballot is Friday, Oct. 23, and absentee ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day.