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Spalding County moves to place six-year SPLOST referendum on November ballot, staff to set priorities
Summary
County staff recommended an intergovernmental SPLOST with Griffin and Orchard Hill to fund roughly $134 million over six years; commissioners approved the project list and asked staff to provide prioritized, year-by-year spending plans and sequencing for large items such as a new E-911 facility.
Spalding County staff told commissioners at a June 1 workshop they should approve an intergovernmental agreement with the cities of Griffin and Orchard Hill to present a six-year special-purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) referendum to voters in November.
County Manager Dr. Led Better described a program projected to generate about $134 million countywide if approved, with the county’s share used for capital priorities. "The proposed SPLOST represents a six-year program projected to generate approximately $134 million if approved by the voters," Dr. Led Better said, and recommended structuring the county’s allocation as percentages rather than fixed dollar amounts so projects can adapt to real-world revenue.
The proposed plan directs about 60% of the county allocation to transportation (roads, bridges, sidewalks and trails), with other funds earmarked for parks maintenance and upgrades, an E-911/NextGen 911 facility and technology, fire apparatus, debt reduction, building maintenance, elections facilities (including early-voting capacity), economic development infrastructure and stormwater equipment.
Commissioners supported including the projects on a referendum but asked staff for clearer sequencing and accountability. Several members said large projects — notably a new E-911 facility and NextGen technology — require early prioritization because they involve multi-year planning and statutory requirements. The county attorney confirmed the resolution that calls the referendum lists projects but does not require a particular order of execution; board members instructed staff to provide a year-by-year spending and execution plan that would show what could be delivered in each collection year.
What happens next: Staff will finalize the intergovernmental agreement and the companion resolution, comply with state timing requirements (intergovernmental agreement execution at least 90 days before an election was discussed), and present prioritized spending sequences and draft ballot language for board action ahead of the November vote.
