ESPLOST

Eligible voters from Lexington visited the Oglethorpe County Board of Elections building on Nov. 4, 2025 to vote on FLOST, ESPLOST, homestead exemption tax and public service commissioners. (Ansley Gavlak/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Eligible voters from Lexington visited the Oglethorpe County Board of Elections building on Nov. 4, 2025 to vote on FLOST, ESPLOST, homestead exemption tax and public service commissioners. (Ansley Gavlak/The Oglethorpe Echo)

County voters approve FLOST and ESPLOST

Sophia Eppley
Thursday, November 6, 2025
Oglethorpe County voters approved a new Floating Local Option Sales Tax (FLOST) and the renewal of the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) on Tuesday.
The sales tax rate in Oglethorpe County is 8%, with half going toward various local option sales taxes. If FLOST passes Nov. 4, the county's sales tax rate will rise to 9%. (Kimberly Thomas/The Oglethorpe Echo)

The sales tax rate in Oglethorpe County is 8%, with half going toward various local option sales taxes. If FLOST passes Nov. 4, the county's sales tax rate will rise to 9%. (Kimberly Thomas/The Oglethorpe Echo)

What to know about FLOST and ESPLOST

Sophia Eppley and Kimberly Thomas
Thursday, October 16, 2025
What is FLOST? The Floating Local Option Sales Tax is a 1% sales tax to help generate revenue for reducing property taxes. The tax is a portion of House Bill 581 that was passed in March 2024 and approved in last November’s general election.   “We’re expecting it to bring in about $1.

ESPLOST renewal on ballot

Zach Leggio
Thursday, August 21, 2025
The Oglethorpe County Board of Education has approved a resolution to put the Education Special Local Option Sales (ESPOLST) on the ballot this November.

BOE plans to use savings to cover budget deficit

Anna Izquierdo
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
A surplus in savings led the Oglethorpe County Board of Education to approve its budget for 2025-26.  The $30.8 million budget includes a nearly $3 million deficit, which will be covered by the school system’s fund equity, or savings account. Expenses are expected to be $33.7 million.
Superintendent Beverley Levine attends the BOE meeting via Zoom while she’s visiting family in South Africa. The BOE approved the 2026 budget on Tuesday. (Photo/Zach Leggio)

Superintendent Beverley Levine attends the BOE meeting via Zoom while she’s visiting family in South Africa. The BOE approved the 2026 budget on Tuesday. (Photo/Zach Leggio)

BOE approves deficit budget at $30.8 million

Zach Leggio
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
The Oglethorpe County Board of Education unanimously approved the budget for the 2026 fiscal year at its meeting on Tuesday. The total revenue is projected at $30.8 million and the total expenses at $33.7 million, resulting in a nearly $3 million deficit.