Airport authority opposes T-SPLOST project

When it comes to the T-SPLOST, the Jackson County Airport Authority has a clear message for voters: Its lone project on the list isn’t needed. In fact, the chairman of the airport authority went as far as saying Tuesday night that if voters approve the new penny sales tax to fund transportation projects in the region, Jackson County shouldn’t take the money to build another taxiway at the airport. “This authority, as it is now, is totally against the T-SPLOST money for that project,” said Ken Botts, who was named chairman of the Jackson County Airport Authority in March. Botts explained that the T-SPLOST list before voters is final and can’t be changed. “What I want the public to know is that as far as the T-SPLOST goes, these projects were supposedly vetted by the Georgia (Department of Transportation),” Botts said. “This airport authority, as a unit, never knew of about the T-SPLOST money for the taxiway. It was never brought up in a meeting. It was never discussed. I didn’t even find out about it until a couple of months ago, which is way too late to make any changes.” Botts further said he believed that “it’s an extremely poor use of taxpayer money.”

For the full story, see the June 20 issue of The Jackson Herald.