SPLOST III passed by an overwhelming 92 percent margin Tuesday.

The Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax for Tift County education had little trouble passing. Of 1,268 votes cast, 1,174 — or 92.59 percent — voted to pass the SPLOST which will extend the current 1-cent sales tax to June 30, 2012. Only 94 voters elected to oppose the sales-tax referendum.

“I’m ecstatic about the election and the opportunity that voters have given the Tift County Board of Education and the confidence that they have shown in our elected officials,” said Tift County Superintendent Patrick Atwater.

The vote extended the sales tax that began in July 1997 and has generated at least $48 million for Tift County schools. The new SPLOST is expected to generate $44 million.

“I would like to say that a near 93 percent ‘yes’ vote is just outstanding,” said Greg Sowell, chairman of Friends United for Education, a local group which spearheaded the passing of the SPLOST. “It is about 10 percentage points better than any SPLOST has done in Tift County, for education or for general government.”

He said that although the voting was light, the referendum’s supporters expected a light turnout. He said that he believes that the number of voters staying home indicated that the populace is comfortable with the progress that has been made.

“I’d also like to thank all those community volunteers who helped with our Friends United for Education,” Sowell said. “Everybody came together for the common good. That’s what this community is known for.”

Atwater also thanked Sowell and the other leaders behind FUE. The organization helped lead the SPLOST effort by posting signs, distributing pamphlets and publicizing the vote in other ways.

“We certainly appreciated the support of Friends United for Education,” said the superintendent.