TSPLOST project list now on-line

The list of items that could be funded if Athens-Clarke County voters approve a November transportation sales tax referendum is now available for on-line viewing. Links to the list can be found on the county website, Athens-Clarke County dot com. Athens-Clarke County Commissioners are expected to finalize the list that was compiled by a 22-member citizens committee when they meet in August. The referendum will be held on November 7.

From the Athens-Clarke Co government website...

Submitted projects for inclusion in a possible Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST) 2018 program for Athens-Clarke County are now available online for public review at www.athensclarkecounty.com/tsplost. A total of 36 projects were submitted by Athens-Clarke County Unified Government departments, local organizations, and residents with a total cost of $256 million.

Of these 36 projects, 25 projects also have alternate versions with reduced associated costs and scope for consideration. All of the potential projects and alternate potential projects are available online.

Residents can submit public comments concerning any of these projects online at www.athensclarkecounty.com/tsplost and during a public forum on Wednesday, May 10 from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. at the Athens Regional Library at 2025 Baxter Street.

The TSPLOST Citizens Advisory Committee is a group of 22 citizens responsible for recommending a list of candidate projects for adoption by the Mayor and Commission. The committee will select a list of potential projects totaling no more than $154.5 million, representing 150% of the available funding, for review by the Mayor and Commission at their Work Session on Tuesday, May 9 at 5:30 p.m. in the auditorium at 120 Dougherty Street Governmental Building.

Based on feedback from the public and the Mayor and Commission, the committee will then develop a final list of candidate projects that total 100% of the available funding to recommend to the Mayor and Commission at their Work Session on Tuesday, June 13.

Georgia law allows local communities to use TSPLOST proceeds for transportation purposes if approved by voters in a referendum. If voters approve a TSPLOST 2018 program on November 7, 2017, sales tax collection will begin in April 2018 as an additional sales tax to the current sales tax. The new TSPLOST sales taxes will be either 0.75% or 1% depending on whether an intergovernmental agreement is made with the cities of Bogart and Winterville.

The TSPLOST website at www.athensclarkecounty.com/tsplost also contains a calendar of upcoming TSPLOST meetings and deadlines, a presentation about the TSPLOST program, and other information related to the TSPLOST 2018 program for Athens-Clarke County. The SPLOST Program Management Office, which oversees the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) programs for Athens-Clarke County, is coordinating the TSPLOST 2018 process.

Upcoming key TSPLOST dates:

• May 9 - Mayor & Commission Work Session to review potential projects with TSPLOST Citizens Advisory Committee
• May 10 - Public forum on Potential TSPLOST 2018 projects
• June 13 - Mayor & Commission Work Session to review candidate projects with TSPLOST Citizens Advisory Committee
• June 20 - Public hearing on proposed TSPLOST 2018 program at Mayor & Commission Agenda Setting Session
• July 11 - Mayor & Commission Work Session with cities of Bogart and Winterville for possible inclusion in TSPLOST 2018 program
• July 18 - Public hearing on proposed TSPLOST 2018 program at Mayor & Commission Agenda Setting Session
• August 1 - Mayor & Commission Regular Session to approve final list of projects in TSPLOST 2018 program
• August 15 - Mayor & Commission Special Called Session to approve final referendum language
• November 7 - TSPLOST 2018 citizen referendum