There are so many acronyms in government it can seem like a bowl of alphabet soup. There is one that at first doesn’t seem very appetizing at all (it’s a tax, yuck) but is actually good for you and that is SPLOST! The Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax or SPLOST is exactly that. It
is a local sales tax that provides income for special purposes.
ANOTHER tax? How can that be good? Let’s break it down…
- SP = Special Purpose – these funds do not cover ongoing government expenses (boring) but instead pay for capital projects (yay!). Think improvements like upgrades to roads, bridges and sidewalks, public safety facilities and equipment, water and sewer improvements, and park and recreation facilities (THE FUN STUFF).
- LO = Local Option – SPLOST is voted on by each county in Georgia with the citizens deciding whether to have this program. It is an option for each county’s citizens to decide whether to implement the 1% sales tax that funds SPLOST projects. The funds are then available to both the county and cities within the county to fund projects. So the projects are LOCAL and YOU as a voter get to cast your vote to either support that tax or not.
- ST = Sales Tax – As state above, it is an additional 1% sales tax on purchases.
- TSPLOST – The “T” refers to transportation. TSPLOST is specifically for local transportation improvements.
So if we are in Jackson Co, GA and we buy an ice cream bar for $1, it will cost us $1.07 because of the sales tax. The State of Georgia gets 4 cents of that sales tax and Jackson County gets to keep 3 cents. Right now 1 penny of that ice cream bar is going to fund SPLOST in Jackson County. In fact, the GA Department of Revenue report for Oct 1-December 31, 2022 shows only 1 county in GA without a SPLOST program or other special sales tax program! The best part about a sales tax?
Without a YES vote, your community will not have opportunities to improve your community without raising your property taxes.
The “T” refers to transportation. TSPLOST is specifically for local transportation improvements.
Take Athens-Clarke County for an example. All those crazy Dawgs that come from out of town for home football games and all the visiting team’s crazies that shop for tailgating supplies, stay in hotels, eat out in restaurants, and then leave town? They just paid 1 penny for every dollar they spent to SPLOST projects that benefit the local citizens!!! So that’s a big plus with SPLOST in all counties. (Maybe that’ll make you feel a little better next time you’re stuck in game traffic or behind a large group at the restaurant.)
The one area almost everyone wants more of is Parks and recreation. These facilities are seldom funded through regular funds because these projects can cost millions by the time you acquire the land and then construct the facilities. Yet, there has never been more funding available to provide park and recreation facilities. But unfortunately many of the funds available require matching funds. That’s where SPLOST can come in and $250,000 of local money could be matched with $250,000 of State grant funds to buy that beautiful piece of land that can become the next great park.
Want more hiking trails? SPLOST can help. Want more trails or golf cart paths? SPLOST can help. Getting the idea?? Go to your county’s website and look at how they have used their SPLOST funds. Don’t agree with projects? Talk with your county commissioner or city council member and tell them how you’d like to see your SPLOST funds spent.
Oconee Residents – voting YES on TSPLOST this fall helps us with our Heritage Park Initiative.
In Oconee, Heritage Park was created with SPLOST funding. AAHC team members and volunteers are asking Oconee County leaders to use SPLOST funds for safety and maintenance improvements. You can read more about the Heritage Park initiative here. Oconee Citizens voting yes on TSPLOST this fall means the Board of Commissioners can use SPLOST funds for more/updating parks because they will have dedicated transportation funds. Learn more about Oconee’s 2023 TSPLOST.
Final points to leave you with….. SPLOST is an important program for improving the facilities and opportunities in our communities. Without a YES vote, your community will not have those opportunities without raising your property taxes. With SPLOST, everyone, including out-of-towners, contribute to these funds and help the increased quality of life where you live. VOTE YES if it is on the ballot in your county this fall and then go buy lots of ice cream bars!