Politics & Government
SPLOST: How Will Money Be Spent?
At a meeting organized by UPCCA, Charlotte Nash, Chairman of the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners, discusses how the 2014 SPLOST money will be used should it pass in November.
On Nov. 5, Gwinnett voters have an opportunity whether to extend the one-cent sales tax for another three years.
Should voters decide in favor of SPLOST, the county and its 16 cities are expected to benefit from an estimated $498 million with 78.9 percent earmarked to the county and the cities sharing the remaining 21.0 percent.
"The tax rate will stay at 6 percent if voters approve the extension, it won't go up," said Charlotte Nash, Gwinnett County's Chairman, who was invited to a UPCCA meeting Monday evening to speak on SPLOST.
The funding to cities is based on population, Peachtree Corners allocation is nearly $20 million. The city is expected to designate its portion entirely for transportation projects. Click HERE for a copy of the intergovernmental agreement which lists the county projects and the projects of each of the 16 cities.
"The current SPLOST funding, which began in 2009, has brought in $579.1 million (through July 2013)," said Nash.
In Peachtree Corners, for example, previous SPLOST programs have funded:
- More than nine miles of sidewalks and multi-use paths
- Road resurfacing
- School safety programs
- Improvements at the Jones Bridge and Holcomb Bridge parks
- Completed a major road widening of Medlock Bridge Road from Peachtree Industrial Boulevard to S.R. 141
- Made seven intersection improvements including adding turn lanes to Holcomb Bridge Road at both S.R. 141, Peachtree Industrial Boulevard
- Completed several safety and alignment projects including Bush and South Old Peachtree roads.
- Resurfacing Jay Bird Alley and Winters Chapel Road by the end of 2013
- Sidewalks currently being installed along Buford Highway and Peachtree Industrial Boulevard
Other county projects:
- $70.7 million for public safety facilities and equipment
- $29.5 million for recreational facilities and equipment
- $11.8 million for library relocation and renovations
- $5.9 million for senior service facilities.
The idea of collecting a penny on every dollar spent to be used for transportation and other essential services makes sound sense Nash pointed out. It means the county can make the improvements without borrowing funds.
History of SPLOST: Gwinnett voters approved the first SPLOST in June 1985, the monies were used to construct the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center. In the past 28 years total collections have been more than $2.5 billion and used for a number of projects including roads, parks, libraries and other programs.
Are you in favor of extending the SPLOST program for three additional years?
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