Administrator proposes roughly $407 million SPLOST 9 project list; vote targeted for early August

Augusta City Administrator Allen on Tuesday presented a revised draft of the SPLOST 9 project list that she said totals roughly $407 million and would require about six years of collections, and asked the governing body to finalize the package for a vote in early August.

The recommendation trims or removes several previously proposed projects, keeps priorities identified by commissioners (including a convention center expansion and additional Riverwalk funding), and asks departments and legal staff to review earlier SPLOST accounts for any recapturable funds before those dollars are repurposed.

“We tried to compromise,” Administrator Allen said, describing a mix of deletions and additions after public and commissioner input. She acknowledged some members would be unhappy and urged the body not to partially fund projects during a single SPLOST period: “If you’re not going to finish and do the project completely during that SPLOST period it probably doesn't need to be on the list.”

Why it matters: the SPLOST (special purpose local option sales tax) package determines local capital spending priorities across public safety, infrastructure and quality-of-life programs. The administrator’s list will shape projects placed on the…