The Augusta Commission is expected to resume talks about the next special purpose, local option sales tax package at a Thursday workshop.
The SPLOST 9 project list had grown to more than $434 million in August, when the commission voted to postpone a planned voter referendum from Nov. 4 to May 19.
In that list, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office was allocated $80 million including $65 million for badly-needed renovations at the Charles B. Webster Detention Center. The remaining $15 million would go to purchase vehicles.
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The city expects to borrow funds up front for the jail to complete the renovations sooner.
Public safety projects including the sheriff’s make up about a quarter of the total package, some $105 million. Augusta Fire Department is designated $21.8 million to replace a station and $15 million for fire apparatus.
None of the funding was earmarked for the Richmond County Marshal’s Office or Augusta Circuit District Attorney. A remaining $4 million is allocated for unspecified public safety fleet.
Infrastructure and road work
Designated $80 million in the current SPLOST package is Augusta’s Engineering department. These funds include $20 million for road resurfacing and $22 million for stormwater improvements not covered by the city’s stormwater fee or transportation sales tax.
Other road projects in the current list include $4 million for widening and drainage work on Willis Foreman Road and $2.5 million for Walton Way.
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The “safety and operational improvements” on Walton Way include narrowing four-lane sections to two lanes with a turn lane and a roundabout at Hickman Road, according to the funding request. The Walton Way improvements stretch from the Lake Forest Drive intersection to the 2000 block of Walton Way, between Hickman and Heard Avenue.
The roundabout was one of about nine on a list for which Engineering initially sought funding but most of the funds did not make the latest list.
Facilities and quality of life
Under the category of “general government” is $96.2 million in projects, including over $10 million for IT upgrades such as mobile data terminal replacements for public safety vehicles.
The list includes $20 million for a juvenile court facility and $18 million to expand Augusta’s convention center.
Under “quality of life” is $72 million for Augusta Recreation and Parks, including $5 million for Diamond Lakes Regional Park and $22 million for Riverwalk upgrades and to reconstruct the Boathouse.
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On the latest list, $3 million each goes to the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam, the Fifth Street Marina and city cemeteries.
Another $10 million is earmarked for a new park. The remaining funds are designated to general renovations and upgrades, such as $1.8 million for “courts” and $9.7 million for facilities.
Other larger projects that made the latest list include $12 million to replace the Augusta Canal bulkhead gates. The Augusta Economic Development Authority is allocated $25 million for a large sewer expansion in south Richmond County.
The workshop is scheduled for 2-4 p.m. in the commission chamber at Augusta Municipal Building.
