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Oconee County announces TSPLOST renewal plan, allocation breakdown and timeline
Summary
County leaders proposed renewing the TSPLOST to raise about $72 million over six years, with $36 million for paving, $9.5 million for safety intersections, and $9.3 million allocated to cities (Watkinsville ~7.7%). The county expects a July schedule of IGAs and a possible July 28 call for the election.
At the June 16 town hall the chair outlined the county’s plan to request voter approval to renew the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST), describing a proposed six‑year program and preliminary spending allocations.
The chair said the renewal would raise roughly $72 million over six years and that past TSPLOST collections allowed the county to reduce the millage rate by one mill. "As you know, last time we had T‑SPLOST, we dropped the millage rate by one mil, and we're planning to continue to keep that drop," the chair said.
Officials described the spending plan: approximately $36 million set aside for paving (an estimated 24–25 miles of roads), $9.5 million for safety intersections, and direct distributions to cities totaling about $9.3 million. The chair gave estimated city shares: Watkinsville at about 7.7% (roughly $5.6 million), Bogart approximately $2.3 million, North High Shoals near $950,000 and Bishop about $568,000.
Timeline steps include a July 7 update on the IGA with cities, a mayor’s meeting on June 22 to discuss the draft, and, if cities approve the IGA, a county call for election as soon as July 28; the Board of Elections would meet August 3 to carry out procedural steps. The actual election date discussed was Nov. 3, 2026.
The chair emphasized the distribution is preliminary and contingent on final IGA language and city approvals. No formal vote on the TSPLOST renewal took place at the town hall.
