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Commissioners add boathouse, housing and parks to SPLOST 9 package and vote to move referendum to May
Summary
Augusta commissioners approved adding a boathouse renovation and other funding requests to the SPLOST 9 project list and voted 8–2 to move the special-purpose local-option sales tax (SPLOST) referendum from November to a May election, with staff warning a May defeat would delay the next possible referendum by 12 months.
Augusta-Richmond County commissioners on Tuesday approved adding a boathouse renovation and several other project requests to the SPLOST 9 project list and voted to move the SPLOST 9 referendum from the November ballot to a May election.
Administrator Allen told the commission the administration had received “one request … for the boathouse renovations” and that adding that request would raise the total SPLOST 9 recommendation to about $4.246 billion if the governing body agreed. “We just received one request, so one adjustment,” Administrator Allen said. “And that request is for the boathouse renovations.”
The commission then moved on a motion by Commissioner Don Clark, seconded by Commissioner Catherine Smith Rice, to change the election month for SPLOST 9 to May. Clerk announcements recorded the motion carrying 8–2, with two commissioners recorded as voting no and one commissioner absent.
Mayor Johnson and several commissioners pressed for caution but ultimately supported the change after staff described schedule and collection consequences. Interim finance staff warned that if the referendum fails in May, the next opportunity would be a year later; as Administrator Allen explained, “If it fails in May ’26, the next election could occur in May ’27.” That calendar constraint — and the commission’s desire to give voters a clearer package — featured in debate.
Why it matters: moving the referendum changes the campaign and implementation schedule. Finance staff said collections for a SPLOST approved in May would begin 90 days after the election (staff referenced an October 1 start in that scenario), but they also warned that a failed May referendum would require waiting 12 months to try again, delaying projects that rely on SPLOST receipts.
What was added and what commissioners said: After discussion, several members requested adding specific project funding to the list. Commissioner Stacy Pulliam asked to “add … the $10,000,000 for housing” to the consented items, explaining she intended the money for “attainable affordable housing” and public-private incentives rather than only low-income subsidy programs. Administrator Allen explained that the housing line could be structured through an authority or other vehicle to give the city flexibility in how it partners with developers.
Other adjustments discussed by commissioners included a $10 million allocation for a new park/community center, a $5 million request for Carrie Mays Park, and a $2–2.5 million request for a South Augusta waterpark. Commissioners debated whether large new-ticket projects should be reduced to preserve capacity for renovation of existing facilities.
The motion to move the referendum to May carried 8–2. Clerk minutes recorded the two no votes and one absence; commissioners said publicly that moving the date gives staff and voters more time to review plans while also exposing the program to the calendar risks described by finance staff.
What’s next: Staff said they will work with the Board of Elections to set the schedule for a May referendum and to produce the final SPLOST project list on the timetable required for a May ballot. Administrator Allen and interim finance staff told commissioners they will return with schedule specifics and any changes required by the Board of Elections."
