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Douglas County advances draft resolution to place special transportation sales tax on November ballot, estimates $160 million in revenue
Summary
County attorney presented a draft resolution and intergovernmental agreement that would send a special district transportation sales and use tax referendum to voters in November and lists projects for county and city jurisdictions; staff estimated about $160 million in anticipated revenue and indicated the documents contemplate issuing general obligation debt.
Douglas County officials on June 1 unveiled a draft resolution and intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the county’s cities to place a special district transportation sales and use tax on the November ballot.
The county attorney described the package as authorizing the tax under ‘‘part one of article 5A of chapter 8 of title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,’’ specifying eligible projects, the tax rate, the maximum revenue to be raised and the estimated project costs. The IGA attaches each city’s proposed projects and contemplates issuing general obligation debt in conjunction with the tax.
Staff said the anticipated revenue from the measure is about $160 million and said the resolution must be approved so the Board of Elections and Registration can advertise the call for the referendum. The managing director confirmed that the required statutory meeting with the cities had already taken place.
Commissioners did not vote on the resolution at the work session; staff said the item will be finalized for the commission meeting so the elections office can move forward with public notice and scheduling.
Why it matters: a voter‑approved special district transportation sales tax would provide a multi‑year revenue stream for road and transportation projects across Douglas County and its municipalities and could be paired with debt issuance to accelerate work.
What happens next: staff will finalize the documents, complete legal review and, if the board approves the resolution at the commission meeting, the elections office will begin the advertising and scheduling process necessary to place the referendum on the November ballot.
