Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax to expire soon
A proposed referendum to extend the county’s special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) was presented at Tuesday’s county commission and a decision is being rushed to have it on the ballot in March.
The county commission unanimously announced plans for the March 18 referendum at the meeting and said a decision on calling for the special election must be finalized by this coming Monday, January 20.
Representatives of the Cities of Blackshear and Offerman including Mayor Keith Brooks, Police Chief Chris Wright and Offerman Mayor Brenda Denison were present at the meeting. No one was present representing the City of Patterson. Former County Attorney Franklin Rozier Jr. who drafted the current SPLOST was also present.
The current SPLOST was approved by voters in 2019 and is set to expire later this year. The 2019 SPLOST was expected to collect $14.4 million over six years.
County Chairman Neal Bennett told those present the tax will generate more than that in revenue.
In his presentation, Bennett said the county wanted to go on and put a renewal referendum before the voters in a special election June 17 of this year. If approved, the 2026 SPLOST is expected to generate $18 million.
Bennett and County Manager Raphel Maddox apologized for the rushed process, explaining they thought they had more time to prepare for the referendum.
“We thought we could call an election for June, but the state may have a special election then and they won’t allow local questions to be put on the ballot,” he said.
A public referendum on a public service commission item will be on the ballot statewide June 17. Local election officials asked the state to allow them to add the SPLOST referendum, but the state has not given an answer to the request.
The next available referendum date will be March 18, meaning that the call for election has to be completed and advertised right away.
Denison said she was not opposed to the SPLOST, but she criticized county officials for not planning ahead.
“I didn’t know until today and Offerman has to come up with a list and the city council has to have a called meeting to approve it, because our regular meeting doesn’t happen until after the deadline,” she said.
Bennett and Maddox reiterated they just found out about the rushed timeline, too.
Denison was skeptical. “You should have kept us better informed on plans. We have phones, we have computers for email, someone should have let us know something,” she said.
Maddox apologized for the late notice and lack of communication.
Proceeds from the tax will be divided between the county and cities roughly based on population.
The county will receive the bulk of the funds at 65.37 percent. Blackshear gets 24.7 percent, Patterson, 6.89 percent, and Offerman gets 3.04 percent.
The county is projected to receive $11.75 million of the SPLOST proceeds. It split its share of the revenues for road construction and maintenance ($5.88 million), public safety capital improvements and maintenance ($3.52 million) and cultural and recreational facilities ($2.35 million).
Fourth district Commissioner David Lowman said the cultural and recreational facilities funds will go toward expansion of the recreation complex on County Farm Road and renovations at Ware Street.
Blackshear will receive approximately $4.45 million from the proposed SPLOST. Blackshear’s list of projects include road maintenance and construction ($889,920), water and sewer construction and maintenance ($1,778,400), public safety ($1,111,500), recreation/historical/downtown ($222,300) and facility construction/improvements ($444,600).
The Blackshear City Council approved its projects list at its work session last Tuesday.
Patterson is projected to receive $1.24 million from the proposed SPLOST.
Patterson’s proposed project list includes water and sewer ($621,000), public safety and downtown development ($185,000 apiece),Eagle Station ($162,000), road and street construction ($61,200) and recreational facilities ($25,000).
The Patterson City Council approved its projects list at its regular meeting last Thursday evening.
Offerman is projected to receive $547,200 under the proposed SPLOST. The city has divided the money it will receive between road and street improvements and recreation and cultural uses at $273,600 apiece.
Offerman City Council approved its projects list as a called meeting Monday night.
“You should have kept us better informed on plans. We have phones, we have computers for email, someone should have let us know something.” - Brenda Denison
