Meriwether County towns, including Gay, approve IGA to pursue TSPLOST renewal

The Town of Gay council voted unanimously on July 2, 2024 to approve an amended intergovernmental agreement with Meriwether County to pursue renewal of the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, known as TSPLOST. The vote followed a county-level presentation on the proposed renewal and a discussion of how funds would be distributed and which projects each municipality would propose.

Theron Gay, Special Projects Director, presented a detailed overview of TSPLOST, describing how the tax works, changes made since its original inception and emphasizing a rush to get the measure included on the November ballot. After questions and discussion about the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA), several amendments were noted and agreed to by the municipalities present.

Mayor Christopher J. Walker called for a motion to approve the IGA with the agreed amendments. Council member Watts moved to approve the agreement; Council member Pritchett seconded, and the Town of Gay vote in favor was unanimous among those present (Mayor Walker and council members Watts, Pritchett and Keith). The council then approved a motion to adjourn at 7:15 p.m.

The minutes note that Greenville, Luthersville and Woodbury also opted to sign the amended IGA during their respective special meetings. Council member Askvig was recorded as unable to be present for the Town of Gay meeting. The transcript records Christopher J. Walker as Mayor and Sharon Richmond as Clerk on the meeting documentation.

Next steps identified in the meeting record are implementation of the agreed amendments to the IGA and execution of the agreement by the municipalities that opted to sign. The presentation framed the IGA and the proposed TSPLOST renewal as steps toward placing the measure on an upcoming November ballot; the transcript does not specify which November or provide timelines beyond that statement.