The Columbia County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to approve the 2023-2028 special purpose local-option sales tax project list during its July 19 meeting.
“This is not a new tax. This is a continuation of the existing tax, and it gives us the opportunity to do special projects in Columbia County,” said Columbia County Manager Scott Johnson.
Last month, public town hall meetings were held to see what Columbia County residents would like created through the tax.
“We held four listening sessions for the public, and we got some really good ideas, and we actually modified the internal list we had at that particular time,” Johnson said. “We’re comfortable with the list we have, and we’re comfortable with the SPLOST going forward and can’t wait to see what the voters decide.”
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The project list estimated cost is around $288 million over six years. The list includes upgrades to parks and county facilities, new fire trucks and new fire stations, road work and storm water improvements.
“Things like public safety, if you don’t put that in a SPLOST, there are certain things we’re going to have to do, and it is going to fall on the backs with a property increase, and I think the citizens really need to think about that,” Columbia County Vice Chair Gary Richardson said during the meeting.
The list will now appear on the General Election Ballot where voters will decide whether it be approved on the Nov. 8 election.
“If the SPLOST is not approved, essentially Columbia County will go a year without a SPLOST,” Johnson said. “We have been very dependent on SPLOST to be able to do capital projects, and we have had a continuous SPLOST since 1990 in Columbia County, so we’re confident that the voters will look at the list and support that. SPLOST is known to offset property taxes because were not to use property taxes to do capital improvements in the community.”
Chris Rickerson is a staff reporter covering Columbia County government and general assignment topics for The Augusta Press. Reach him at chris@theaugustapress.com.
