SPLOST 9 and the 2026 budget take center stage this week at a series of meetings that begin with a Monday retreat.
Held off-site but open to the public, the retreat usually consists of a presentation to Augusta commissioners about city finances and a discussion of budget priorities. The city recently began collecting public input on the budget through a survey and is expected to hold public meetings next month. This year’s retreat begins at 9 a.m. at Golden Harvest Food Bank.
Tuesday the mayor and commissioners have a noon work session on special purpose, local-option sales tax 9 or SPLOST 9 and the city’s Central Services and Recreation and Parks departments, which are involved in most capital projects.
The commission has already been planning for the large SPLOST 9 income stream although collections won’t start until SPLOST 8 concludes late next year. SPLOST 9 projects in the running include a new pod at Charles Webster Detention Center, expanding the Augusta Convention Center and a water park. SPLOST 9 is expected to go before voters on the Nov. 4 ballot.
At 2 p.m. the commission has a regular meeting. Among its public speakers are Patricia Geter with the West Augusta 6 who is expected to propose using SPLOST 9 to build a community center for the “fastest-growing area in West Augusta.” Facilities for the area’s active military, veterans, seniors and children would include basketball, racketball and pickleball courts; indoor and outdoor walking tracks, a laned pool and kitchen.
Other items going before the commission Tuesday include:
- To proceed with using about $500,000 from SPLOST 8 to make improvements at Diamond Lakes Regional Park including sidewalks, benches, shelters and speed humps
- An OK for the administrator, finance director and general counsel to meet with Troy Akers about a proposed pickleball and tennis complex
- An update from the interim general counsel about a “Letter of Support” for maintaining the name of James Brown on the new arena being built with the C-SPLOST
- Fire Chief Antonio Burden will present information about a partnership with Augusta Technical College for an occupation associate’s degree as well as the department’s new booklet, “After the Fire”
- Warden Evan Joseph will discuss operations at the Richmond County Correctional Institution. Under the latest agreement the facility is to house up to 230 state inmates for which the state pays $30 per day
