Those who live, work and visit Augusta would not be able to enjoy the same quality-of-life benefits we have were it not for the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax programs of the last 35 plus years.
Since the state passed legislation to enact SPLOST in the mid-1980s, right here in our hometown of Augusta, nearly $1 billion dollars of tax revenue has been generated. Imagine that in a community like ours, the second largest city in Georgia, a 1% additional sales tax is added to retail purchases to fund specific projects, such as roads, bridges, fire stations, parks and libraries. This is ONE of FEW times our government has gotten it RIGHT. The collection process has been painless. An additional penny sales tax added to each dollar spent locally…most people don’t even notice it, but those of us who DO pay attention understand just how IMPORTANT this revenue stream is.
IMPORTANT because it taxes regular purchases, consumer purchases rather than property ownership. The additional sales tax is paid by EVERYONE who buys goods in the county. Augusta has in the past and will continue in the FUTURE to benefit from a heavy influx of tourists and travelers each year for the Masters, Iron Man Competition, GreenJackets and other events. These are people who live somewhere else and who provide revenue streams that help in a significant way to finance needed government facilities and infrastructure, facilities and infrastructure that might otherwise go unbuilt or not well-maintained.
[adrotate banner=”19″]
I don’t think you have to be a Rhodes Scholar to tell by now, I SUPPORT the SPLOST concept. The idea of SPLOST requires that specific projects are identified before getting voter approval. The funds, by statue, are earmarked for specific use on those projects and can’t be used for anything else. The SPLOST expires after a certain period of time and has to be presented to the voters again for approval if it is to continue. In addition, usually a SPLOST Review committee usually monitors the progress of the projects.
So, here we are. Voters are being asked in March to approve SPLOST 8. They have only once before, that I can recall, refused to do so, a decision that really delayed critical infrastructure improvements and maintenance. When voters approve SPLOST 8, and I believe they should, collections from the designated sales tax will be used to fund parks, build a new arena and purchase some new law enforcement equipment, repair roads and make traffic improvements, renovate buildings and facilities. A water park is on the list along with a variety of county projects specific to certain areas.
I mentioned the arena, because $25 million of the proposed SPLOST will go to building a new arena and the renovation of the Bell Auditorium, which on all accounts is much needed. Now I’m not a fan of building the arena back in the spot where it currently stands – but we are desperately in need of one.
It is important to note that THIS IS NOT A NEW TAX. The SPLOST has been collected locally for over 20 years. It is a continuation of what is already in place with no increase. So, don’t start to listen to the people who have so much to say about why we shouldn’t do it. They are what I like to refer to as “loud mouths.” Most of them who are refuting the possible SPLOST don’t even live in Augusta. So, they would have no stake in Augusta improving its quality of life. The others are ones who have personal axes to grind with local politicians. They are so pressed to push their personal agendas that they will let the community suffer and in some cases have done just that.
[adrotate banner=”31″]
They are basically doing to the community what they accuse the commissioners of doing to the community: keeping Augusta from reaching its full POTENTIAL.
Because we have become so accustomed to having a SPLOST, it can become easy to forget what can happen if we don’t have one. What happens if the sales tax stops being collected to pay for certain big items? They would have to be funded through traditional taxes – like property, which would put the burden on a few and not on the entire community and visitors. Many of the projects that are vital to the on-going growth, progress and improvement of Augusta, would certainly prove financially impossible if their cost had to be shouldered only by the property owners. Who wants higher property taxes? Which for renters trickles downs to higher rents.
So why am I bringing up SPLOST? Because it’s our time to do our part. Early voting began yesterday, and if past elections of this type are any indication of what we could expect – turnout will be low. So, we must be intentional.
With ALL that I have said above, you probably can determine what I am going ask you to do for the betterment of Augusta – I ask that you do your part and vote YES. Vote yes for a better place to live, work and play. Then we can figure out what to do with the Regency Mall land, but that’s for another conversation.
Michael Meyers is a Columnist for The Augusta Press. Reach him at Michael.meyers@theaugustapress.com
[adrotate banner=”41″]
