Madison County commissioners approve SPLOST intergovernmental agreement and ask elections superintendent to call ballot question

MADISON COUNTY, Ga. — The Madison County Board of Commissioners voted July 28 to approve an intergovernmental agreement with municipal partners to place a 1% special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) on the ballot and authorized the board chair to execute the agreement. The approval includes a companion resolution asking the election superintendent to call an election and to use ballot language attached as an exhibit to the resolution. The SPLOST agreement lists projects and distribution percentages for each participating city and gives the county authority to collect the tax. Commissioners moved and seconded the resolution in open session; the board recorded affirmative votes and adopted both the intergovernmental agreement and the election-resolution language. County staff said the agreements and the ballot verbiage will be forwarded to the election superintendent after final signatures are collected from the participating cities. County staff also thanked staff attorney Mike Pruitt for preparing the package of resolutions and documents. Why this matters: A SPLOST approval by voters would authorize a dedicated local sales tax for capital outlay projects across the county and its cities; the agreement being approved tonight determines which projects and what shares each city receives if voters approve the tax. Details and procedure: County staff described this item as the intergovernmental agreement that lists projects and distribution percentages and noted two related resolutions would also be voted on that evening. Commissioners discussed whether any jurisdiction could request funds upfront; staff said that question was premature at this stage because the item before the board was placement of the question on the ballot. The board then voted to adopt the agreement and the resolution authorizing the chairman to sign. Next steps: County staff will collect remaining signatures on the agreement from cities, then deliver the signed intergovernmental agreement and the board's resolution to the election superintendent so the question can be placed on the ballot. The ballot language itself is attached as an exhibit to the resolution and will be what voters see if the election is called.