Voters say ‘yes’ to SPLOST
Jackson County voters approved another round of Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST), according to Tuesday’s election results.
With 16 of 16 precincts reporting late Tuesday night, 56.8 percent of voters said "yes" to SPLOST, while 43.1 percent said "no." More than 15,400 ballots had been counted — except for 805 absentee ballots. Even if all of those absentee ballots said "no" to SPLOST, the proposal would still pass. Final numbers were not available as of 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
Over a six-period, the penny sales tax is expected to generate $47.5 million with the county receiving an estimated $33.7 million and its nine cities splitting a total of $13.7 million.
The Jackson County Area of Chamber of Commerce was advocating for voters to approve SPLOST, saying out-of-county visitors would make a major contribution to the fund. If the sales tax vote didn’t pass, the chamber warned that property taxes could be increased to pay off the county’s debt.
“We’re just appreciative of the voters who helped keep the debt off the backs solely of the property owners in Jackson County and allowed as much as 40 percent of that debt to be paid by people who don’t live in this community,” said chamber president Shane Short.
Along with Short, county manager Darrell Hampton and Keith Ariail — who chairs the Citizens for a Better Jackson — awaited election results late Tuesday night at the Jackson County Courthouse.
Ariail said he was impressed with the total number of voters — those for and against the SPLOST proposal.
Short said regardless of how people voted on the SPLOST referendum, its approval will make Jackson County better.
“I think the majority of people understood what SPLOST was about,” Short said. “It was about paying down debt the county had on the jail.”
Jackson County plans to use $23.7 million of its estimated $33.7 million share of SPLOST funds to pay for debt service on the new jail; $6.8 million for roads, streets and bridges; $2 million for recreation; and $1.2 million for three satellite EMS facilities.
Each city in the county also plans to use its share of SPLOST money for various projects or debt service.
Over a six-period, the penny sales tax is expected to generate $47.5 million with the county receiving an estimated $33.7 million and its nine cities splitting a total of $13.7 million.
The Jackson County Area of Chamber of Commerce was advocating for voters to approve SPLOST, saying out-of-county visitors would make a major contribution to the fund. If the sales tax vote didn’t pass, the chamber warned that property taxes could be increased to pay off the county’s debt.
“We’re just appreciative of the voters who helped keep the debt off the backs solely of the property owners in Jackson County and allowed as much as 40 percent of that debt to be paid by people who don’t live in this community,” said chamber president Shane Short.
Along with Short, county manager Darrell Hampton and Keith Ariail — who chairs the Citizens for a Better Jackson — awaited election results late Tuesday night at the Jackson County Courthouse.
Ariail said he was impressed with the total number of voters — those for and against the SPLOST proposal.
Short said regardless of how people voted on the SPLOST referendum, its approval will make Jackson County better.
“I think the majority of people understood what SPLOST was about,” Short said. “It was about paying down debt the county had on the jail.”
Jackson County plans to use $23.7 million of its estimated $33.7 million share of SPLOST funds to pay for debt service on the new jail; $6.8 million for roads, streets and bridges; $2 million for recreation; and $1.2 million for three satellite EMS facilities.
Each city in the county also plans to use its share of SPLOST money for various projects or debt service.
And where is this EMS station that the last SPLOST built? I still have not met a single person that can tell me!
What's wrong with people coming to Tanger to help pay 40% of the cost for our parks, EMS (FYI one built in Nicholson SPQR), etc?
I may be a sheep....but Mike (and the rest of ya'll) is a loser...ha ha
1) Why doesn't Jackson County just give money to the local fire department for new stations that include the ambulance all over the county instead of needing to build separate buildings just for the ambulance?
2) Based on previous postings, Why did the West Jackson fire department have to pay to build on to their station so the ambulance would stay with them but the county gave SPLOST money to the Nicholson Fire Department to rebuild and have the ambulance there? Doesn't seem very fair. What if the ambulance moves out? Does the fire department owe the money back?
3) Isn't the Commissioner from Nicholson the former EMS Director? Seems fishy to me that county money is given to one area fire department but not to another.
4) Can county government give SPLOST money away? If so, then where is Jefferson fire department's cut of this money? Don't my LOCAL firemen deserve some of this "free money"?
5) If the last SPLOST had enough money to build four EMS stations and only one was built and it was actually a remodel WHERE IS THE REST OF THE MONEY? Can someone please tell us where it went? There is NO WAY that four stations worth of money was spent on a remodel.
Sorry.
Theres plenty of idiots in Ga, just didnt think 56 percent of them resided in Jackson County.
No offense if you voted for the increase, but, all your doing is giving money to people who misuse the funds and disrespect the public and there rights by misappropriation.
I think since SPLOST was passed again, we the PUBLIC should have a right to vote on what the funds be used for.. I mean, its our money offered up as a tax..shouldnt WE say where it should go?
If there was public opinion taken as a poll
at a meeting to determine what SPLOST FUNDS were used for, couldnt they just manipulate the audience for the results they seek?
I mean, Monk Tolbert put it like this " Im going to keep doing what ever the hell I want to do" and you can read that Right here at jacksonheraldtoday.com in the archives section.
Something as crucial as millions of dollars in tax that is approved by the people, should not be limited to opinions by a few in what that money is spent on and special voting should be in place to gather a larger citizen opinion on where SPLOSTS funds go.
Splost couldve paid for the Jail and Courthouse outright and saved millions of dollars but, the problem is,People elected just kept doing whatever the hell they wanted to do without proper consensus to approve just what the hell they do.
Why should I support "local businesses" when they don't support me and my family but instead support wasteful government spending?
Plus a 1% savings on EVERY purchase adds up!
I realize that people are busy with their lives, but everyone should try to take a more active part in their community. Attend your local city council meetings and B.O.C. meetings. They are open and are the best way to see what is going on and to talk with the people that were elected.