Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation Funding T Splost topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Cherokee County commissioners tentatively back planning for transportation sales tax referendum; cities’ cooperation highlighted
Summary
Board discussed moving forward with a transportation SPLOST (T-SPLOST) proposal to fund roads and growth management, favored a five-year half-percent option, and agreed to open talks with cities and prepare timelines and project lists before any formal resolution.
Cherokee County commissioners discussed next steps for a possible transportation special-purpose local option sales tax (T-SPLOST) to accelerate road projects and address growth-management needs.
Commissioners said they favor a modest, half-percent sales-tax option and a five-year term that would generate revenue for road maintenance and small-to-medium capital projects. One commissioner framed the proposal as a means to accelerate the county’s road program: “I still like the half percent. ... It would allow us to expand our plans at least somewhat 1 or 2 more small to medium projects per year,” he said.
Board members emphasized that city cooperation will be important. County staff reported two available options if cities do not reach agreement: negotiate intergovernmental agreements (IGAs) with cities, or apply the statutory fallback formula that allocates proceeds based on each jurisdiction’s road expenditures over the previous three years. Commissioners asked staff to prepare a timeline, a draft resolution, and a consolidated project list for public review.
Why it matters
Commissioners described roads and growth management as two of Cherokee County’s top priorities, saying additional revenue is needed to keep pace with development. They discussed election timing (five-year vs. six-year term, overlap with other elections) and agreed not to make a final commitment at this meeting but to begin preplanning steps, including outreach to city mayors and managers.
Next steps
County leadership agreed to begin outreach with municipal leaders, compile a draft project list and timeline, and return with a proposed resolution and legal guidance. Commissioners asked the county manager and staff to prepare steps and a schedule for the remainder of the year. No final resolution or ballot action was taken at this meeting.
