Voters are being asked by the school system to approve extending the county’s 1-cent education sales tax to help fund several needed projects.

“We need to build a new alternative school, and we need to make about $4 million in renovations to Robinson Elementary School,” said Dawson County School Superintendent Keith Porter.

Other projects, if approved, include roof renovations at other schools, a new administrative building and site preparation for a new high school.

Funds would also help to repay a debt on bonds used when the current high school was built.

Porter emphasizes the proposed tax is not a new tax, but a continuation of an existing 1-cent tax currently in place.

“All the surrounding counties are presently reaping the benefits of ELOST (education local option sales tax). When we purchase goods and services in their counties, we must pay the one cent on the dollar,” Porter said.

“It seems appropriate that those neighboring counties’ patrons be asked to assist our taxpayers in paying for our educational facilities and equipment.”

The tax will last a maximum of five years or when the funds designated for the projects listed are collected.

The system anticipates the tax will generate about $30,000,000 in five years.

The vote will be held Nov. 3 during a special election.

All polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Early voting is currently underway and will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Oct. 30 at the Dawson County Board of Elections and Registration, 462 Memory Lane, Suite 150, Dawsonville.