Administrator Allen presented a revised SPLOST 9 project list for the May 19, 2026 ballot and outlined changes since December: restorations to airport items and canal authority funding, an increase to engineering and utilities allocations, and a total that administrators estimated at $325,735,900 prior to later amendments.

Mayor Garnett L. Johnson asked the body to restore $22 million for improvements to the Riverwalk and the boathouse, calling them important economic drivers. Several commissioners proposed redistributions to boost engineering, utilities and small city partner allocations (HetSpa/Blythe) while trimming enhancement/landscaping and other categories.

After amendments and additions, Commissioner Brandon Garrett moved to approve a $397 million SPLOST package. The clerk recorded a roll call: Pulliam, Wimberley, Garrett and Mayor Johnson voted yes; Rice, Clark, Tony Lewis, Slindeck, Scott and Guilfoyle voted no — the motion failed on that recorded vote.

Commissioners recessed to negotiate and returned with a substitute approach: remove $5 million from utilities and $5 million from engineering and apply a proportional percentage reduction across other categories to reach a $375 million target. Attorney Plunkett advised the commission to frame the substitute motion so that all funds other than the small number of exempt items would be adjusted by a percentage to achieve the target total.

The transcript records the substitute motion introduced, seconded and prepared for a vote; minutes show the meeting reconvened and the chair moved to adjourn after business was concluded. The record contains the failed 397M vote and clear documentation of negotiated cuts, but the transcript does not capture a final roll‑call tally for the substitute package within the provided segments.