[{"_1":2,"_82":-5,"_83":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6252486,"mediaKeyId","3188210-ec9bf18931e3c810653fcd319ba93499","parentId",3188210,"title","Stephens County outlines SPLOST priorities, warns of delay for municipalities if intergovernmental agreement not reached","audioSeconds",1160,"startMs",417000,"endMs",1577000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3188210-ec9bf18931e3c810653fcd319ba93499&start=417&end=1577","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3188210-ec9bf18931e3c810653fcd319ba93499/thumbnail_417000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6252486/Georgia/Stephens-County-outlines-SPLOST-priorities-warns-of-delay-for-municipalities-if-intergovernmental-agreement-not-reached","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252486-9fffd31d6f4e8874a05ecd5d2ce03372/orig.mp4?Expires=1774955046&Signature=in0vdHBOtXFaEaC85x33ueLboREaAlHJL4FpwjigucrjkG-kQdx-GAKRRGJlBgZIDxJwT4Y7alza~vQBwyiT~FkfFSd~HwpMdOygY9ftEQYLauQXtGAmhH4K6RYY-~DqeTnvsJYHcunntE9icEfBvMcja2m3s3sr2kUYHjKNgQXgQTwLkTPmrxQ~2Co-snSorzVROXkte7Yd-F~tBBcIgNVD5bOSriMnkWp8q7oInHt9UZkGxIx0t67oQzmJRfHXDCnXPuslia~nJPuy0PbO8C2hg37SDLSy2Huv3sGtZ8SyaWAM04L90x6dF5hYzJvScji326hmLJ7sDT4L-RKJMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-03T10:35:26Z","article","Stephens County commissioners discussed proposed projects for a potential SPLOST (special purpose local option sales tax) renewal and the consequences if the county and municipalities do not reach an intergovernmental agreement (IGA). Christian, a county staff member who presented the plan, said the county aims to continue funding roads, bridges, emergency services, government facilities and economic development with SPLOST revenue.

Christian explained that SPLOST is a 1% sales tax approved by voters that applies to purchases in the county and that the county has used it since 1987 to fund capital projects. He told the board SPLOST 8 would likely continue to fund road and bridge work, county fire needs, ambulances for emergency medical services, law enforcement vehicles, E911 equipment and facility upgrades, and gave several figures from prior SPLOST cycles: in recent years county crews paved 41 miles of county roads at an estimated cost of about $5.1 million and paved 5 miles of City of Toccoa streets at an estimated cost of about $1 million; SPLOST 7 provided roughly $2.0 million for fire needs and about $1.8 million for fire apparatus, nearly $750,000 for ambulance purchases, and $2.4 million for economic development site preparation.

Commissioners emphasized that the county provides countywide services — EMS, fire, E911 and law enforcement — and said those needs informed the project list. County leaders told the public that if an IGA with municipalities (including the City of Toccoa, City of Martin and Avalon) is not signed by the stated deadline, the county would instead proceed under a population-distribution process. Under that scenario, the county would execute its tier 1 projects and municipalities would not receive a share of SPLOST proceeds until roughly the third year of collections, depending on project spending.

The board said it prefers a six-year IGA that allows municipalities and the county to receive and spend funds concurrently from the start of collections. Staff noted they are still completing due diligence on cost estimates for several capital items, including a potential annex building, courthouse space needs, E911 communications upgrades and jail repairs. The county also discussed plans to consolidate unneeded facilities and return them to the tax digest when feasible.

Commissioners encouraged public comment and said the board will provide more detailed line-item breakdowns once it knows whether an IGA will be used or the county will rely on population distribution. The board stated the IGA must be entered into by July 22 to allow time for public notices and placement on the referendum. No final SPLOST ordinance or referendum date was adopted at the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","5.2.2025 Stephens County Board of Commissioners Live Stream","oneSentenceSummary","County staff presented proposed SPLOST 8 projects including roads, fire and EMS, 911 upgrades, economic development and facility consolidation; commissioners discussed an IGA deadline of July 22 and said a failure to agree could shift distributions to a population-based split that would delay municipal shares for about three years.","taxTitle","Stephens County, School Districts, Georgia","taxId",56360,"location","Georgia","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":78,"_53":79,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":80,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":81,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6252491,"Stephens County commissioners approve amended airport lighting contract extension","/articles/6252491/Georgia/Stephens-County-commissioners-approve-amended-airport-lighting-contract-extension","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252491-446d6920993f0ac524d01dccfd59b3d3/orig.mp4?Expires=1774955046&Signature=WwSIX3CmuBR9FyXlGtDP8Ut8jGisVpmrzGwfAYa5PBOjru0YJdvaQ1ChLsdf79ZMSg4CPe6VBaZujOr1CW36-vs9Kq~lN8SPaDcN9yW1kDwnabcV5ssPjsnvEWCMByyteIP7hl97Px9-HQbuzU9q4R9aNIs1ehA1W8dMP75LUub3avsYNHct4Nfo2SF4ITbCircKXK9TKgdnSTlFmDtwo4o2jWPVzmTJw7mPAXrL-wPhyRc-JCosCga644g2ydE9FJv3QWrclbG57f1MoOxNXcQu6ojZ5HAU6v~zTt-RA7y5ijiVT9zPDKz4jlw~47BLTD9nj4zzGSoCu5tqjzcfvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Stephens County Board of Commissioners voted to approve an amendment to the airfield lighting contract with the Stephens County Airport Authority and authorized the chairman to sign the agreement. The board said the amendment extends the project timeline but makes no change to the contract price.

Christian, a county staff member who presented the item, told the board the amendment is a “simple housekeeping matter” to extend the project timeline without changing cost. A commissioner moved to approve the item and a second was recorded; commissioners voiced unanimous approval.

The action was taken at the start of the board’s May 2 meeting after the agenda was amended to add the airport item under new business. No further details about the length of the extension or contract language were provided at the meeting. The board did not discuss changes to budget appropriations related to the amendment.

The contract amendment vote was procedural and carried before the body moved on to a longer discussion about the county’s proposed SPLOST projects and interjurisdictional negotiations with municipal governments.","The Stephens County Board of Commissioners approved an amendment to the airfield lighting contract with the Stephens County Airport Authority that extends the project timeline but does not change cost; the board authorized the chairman to sign.","actionData","errors"]

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Stephens County outlines SPLOST priorities, warns of delay for municipalities if intergovernmental agreement not reached

Stephens County commissioners approve amended airport lighting contract extension