SPRINGFIELD, Ga. — Effingham County voters on Tuesday approved the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) by a margin of 5,852 to 3,789.

The one-cent sales tax will continue funding school improvements — including new buildings, buses, technology upgrades, and safety projects — without raising property taxes. The measure also allows the Effingham County School District to issue up to $125 million in bonds, with the tax lasting up to five years or until the necessary funds are raised.

A total of 9,707 votes were cast in Tuesday’s elections, for a turnout of 19.61 percent, county election director Laura Bassett said.

In municipal elections, Rincon voters elected Trisha Boyett (909 votes) and incumbents Tim Milner (720) and Ben Blackwell (711) to the three open City Council seats. Mayor Kevin Exley was re-elected without opposition.

Rincon voters also approved a resolution allowing liquor stores to operate within city limits, 983 to 440, and to sell on Sundays, 912 to 516.

In Guyton, incumbent Joseph Lee defeated Morgan O. Williams for the Post 3 City Council seat, 228 to 168, while incumbent Michel B. Johnson was unopposed for Post 4.

In a statewide election, Tim Echols won the local race for Public Service Commission District 2, and Fitz Johnson won the local race for District 3. But Alicia Johnson beat Echols while Peter Hubbard defeated Johnson statewide.