Pierce County voters overwhelmingly approved a renewal of the special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) during a referendum last Tuesday, March 18.
Yes votes were 388 (85.5 percent) compared to 66 no votes (14.5 percent).
Only about 3.42 percent (or 454 of 13,290) of Pierce County's active, registered voters turned out for the referendum. Turnout was so light, tallies and final results were completed by 7:20 p.m. Tuesday evening — a mere 20 minutes after polls closed.
County Chairman Neal Bennett said he is pleased with the outcome of the election.
“The sales tax will allow us to continue to make improvements and we will be working on recreation expansion and road projects with the extension of the SPLOST,” he said. “I want to thank all of those who turned out to vote and especially those who voted to extend the SPLOST.”
Bennett pointed out he believes the SPLOST is the fairest tax.
“Everyone pays the sales tax, not just property owners,” he said. “I am thankful we got it passed. Otherwise we would not be able to make improvements and would have had to increase ad valorem property taxes.”
The 2026 SPLOST is expected to generate $18 million over the next six years.
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.
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). 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).
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).
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.
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.
