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Gordon County administrator reports rising sales‑tax collections and multiple potential industrial investments
Summary
County Administrator Jim Ledbetter told commissioners sales-tax collections rose year over year, several large industrial projects are under consideration, and county staff are preparing for a possible voter‑approved local sales tax to lower property millage.
County Administrator Jim Ledbetter reported to the Gordon County Board of Commissioners that sales‑tax collections remitted to the county in February showed year‑over‑year increases and that several high‑value industrial projects and housing developments are under consideration.
Ledbetter said the county’s Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) receipts used for capital projects and the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) collections used to reduce millage both rose compared with last year. He gave specific collection figures for February: $1,183,587.91 for the capital sales tax stream and $721,812.27 for the local option sales tax, each representing modest increases from the prior year.
The administrator said economic development activity has accelerated after a lull and described several potential projects: a Trimble Hollow Road development proposing up to four warehouses totaling more than one million square feet (developer to pay road improvements), a Flamingo project seeking about $150 million in investment and about 100 jobs with an average wage of $20.50 per hour, and a project called AMP proposing about $45 million in capital investment and roughly 250 jobs. Ledbetter also said county staff are tracking roughly 1,300 potential new housing units expected over the next year or two.
Ledbetter flagged House Bill 581, which staff said could affect homestead exemptions and property assessments; he said the county is meeting with city partners to discuss the bill’s implications and possible responses. Separately, he told the board the county’s safety committee has helped reduce workers’ compensation costs and that the county’s investment of cash reserves generated approximately $3.35 million in passive income during the year.
Ledbetter also described workforce and recruitment efforts, including a Talent Connect work‑based learning program in which county departments hosted students for tours and internships; he said several students signed up for shadow days and at least two are in talks for internships.
The report was informational; no formal action was taken on these matters during the meeting. Staff indicated follow-up work will include further coordination with cities on the legislative changes, continued economic development negotiations with prospective companies, and continued monitoring of sales‑tax receipts and budget impacts.
