Gordon County voters have approved both the continuation of the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) and the implementation of a new property tax relief measure, the FLOST. The ESPLOST, a one-cent sales tax that supports capital projects for Calhoun City Schools and Gordon County Schools, was renewed with 3,072 votes in favor and 2,172 opposed. The FLOST, also a one-cent sales tax, is designed to reduce property taxes and passed with 3,456 votes to 1,771. With its approval, Gordon County’s overall sales tax rate will increase to 8%.
In municipal election results, Fairmount City Council Post 3 incumbent Joanna Brannon retained her seat, defeating challenger Thomas C. York. In Calhoun, Bruce Potts unseated incumbent Ray Denmon to win the Post 4 seat on the City Council. Potts, who ran on a platform centered on improving city infrastructure and bringing a fresh perspective to local government, received 964 votes to Denmon’s 739. A total of 1,763 ballots were cast in the city election, representing a 16.07% voter turnout.
In other community news, Friends of Calhoun’s GEM Theatre, the nonprofit organization that oversees operations at The GEM, has been awarded a Vibrant Communities Grant from the Georgia Council for the Arts for fiscal year 2026. Administered through the Georgia Department of Economic Development, the grant program supports arts and cultural initiatives statewide. The GEM Theatre’s award will help the historic downtown venue continue its mission of enriching the Calhoun community through arts, entertainment, and cultural programming.
