Commissioners press state funding split as Albany Avenue overpass runs over budget

During the budget hearing commissioners and staff discussed county capital projects financed by local option sales taxes (referred to in the meeting as SPLS/SPLASH) and the regional T‑SPLOST program. Miss Short said the county has about $12 million set aside for the Albany Avenue overpass but commissioners and staff said recent estimates push project costs higher.

A commissioner noted the overpass projection has climbed to about $16.5 million and asked where the overage would be covered; Miss Short said the overage would likely be covered by SPLOST/SPLS reserves. Commissioners also reviewed the county’s regional T‑SPLOST receipts: roughly $10 million received through May over several years versus an annual county contribution of roughly $6.6 million.

Multiple commissioners objected to the regional-sharing formula, saying it tends to send significant local contributions to larger counties’ projects. One commissioner argued for restoring a single-county allocation model used in 2018 so more of the sales-tax penny would remain here for local roads and projects rather than be distributed regionally.

Why it matters: the overpass is a large capital commitment that will affect available SPLOST funds for other projects; commissioners questioned whether regional T‑SPLOST allocations are delivering value proportionate to Ware County’s contributions and suggested future advocacy or structural changes at the state level.

The board did not take a binding vote on a funding change at the hearing; staff and commissioners discussed options for covering the projected overrun and how future regional allocations affect long-term capital planning.