SANFORD — On Tuesday, 3,799 county residents voted to increase the county sales tax by one-quarter of a penny to generate money for the nearly $20 million renovation of Lee County High School.

But the increase doesn’t take effect until the county board acts.

Administrators said they were pleased to have the community’s support for the referendum on the ballot Tuesday. Lee County High School Principal Greg Batten said Wednesday that excitement is in the air at the school.

“This is long overdue. Our staff and students deserve a modern, 21st century facility,” he said. “It’s nice that our kids our going to be on a level playing field” with other schools in the area.

Now the county will get things rolling. County Manager John Crumpton said that in order to receive revenues from January 2010, the first possible month the tax could be levied, the vote would have to come no later than Nov. 30. Since the board's next meeting is scheduled for Dec. 7, a special meeting will likely be called to meet this deadline.

Crumpton said the county would begin receiving revenues from the tax on April 1, 2010 — which would be from January sales, since dispersements lag a quarter-year behind. The tax increase will apply to non-essential items, so groceries, gas, utilities and prescription drugs are exempt.

On the school’s side of things, Superintendent Jeff Moss said plans should be designed and developed by late December or early January. From there, the plans will have to be approved at different levels, including by the division of school planning and by county and city inspectors, Moss said.

The project should go out for bid in February and be accepted in March, with construction beginning in April, he said.

But because the board decided last month to go ahead with the project regardless of the fate of the referendum, the county is already moving forward with the renovations, Crumpton said. When architect Jimmy Hite of Hite and Associates alerts the board that his plans are 30-60 days from the start of construction, the county will begin the bidding process.

The board will have to approve a resolution to authorize the county to borrow the funds — estimated at $19.5 million — to renovate the campus. Crumpton said he expects the county's accounting firm — Davenport, Marvin, Joyce & Co. — to present borrowing options to the board at its Dec. 7 meeting.

Moss and Board of Education member Frank Thompson, Sr. both said they are glad the school received such support.

“The commissioners took a stand and that’s all that was needed,” Thompson said. “Nobody will ever notice that quarter-cent sales tax.”

Batten said he understands it’s hard to be in favor of a tax increase, but felt the cause was necessary.

“No one likes increased taxes but there are certain things that truly are an investment in our future,” he said, “and our community can reap the benefits.”

Alison Poole, teacher and career development coordinator at the high school, said students and staff are ready to get started.

“I think the kids are going to be thrilled to have the new facility,” Poole said. “This is a huge deal. It’s time.”

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Community Editor Jonathan Owens contributed to this story.