Commission debates SPLOST 2026 project list, asks staff to identify TAD overlaps and buckets for district equity
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Summary
Commissioners discussed the draft SPLOST 2026 project list for the May referendum and asked staff to map projects eligible for TAD funding, consider geographic equity for districts that received less prior funding, and identify projects that could be advanced with unanticipated SPLOST 2023 revenue.
Commissioners spent substantial time reviewing the proposed SPLOST 2026 final projects list, pressing staff on how to coordinate SPLOST dollars with TAD (Tax Allocation District) funds and whether projects already on 2023 lists might be accelerated if additional 2023 revenue is available.
Staff said ongoing conversations with TAD committees have identified opportunities where TAD-eligible projects overlap with SPLOST priorities and that if the state interpretation of some 2023 SPLOST revenue proves valid, extra funds could allow some projects now listed for 2026 to be moved forward into the 2023 package. Staff urged commissioners to consider "buckets" of flexible funding (pavement, intersections, Greenway segments) and to prioritize districts that received little funding in past cycles.
Commissioners requested consolidated materials: (1) TAD committee blurbs listing transportation and priority projects; (2) a crosswalk showing which 2026 projects could be TAD-funded; and (3) proposals to ensure each commissioner's district receives tangible investments. Several commissioners said they would work over the holidays to propose minor list edits before the January agenda-setting meeting; staff reiterated the timeline that the referendum list must be finalized by early February.