Advantages of SPLOST

Citizen approval of the SPLOST benefits the County’s transportation program in the following ways:

1. The SPLOST allows for transportation improvements to be made that could not be completed otherwise.  The typical annual budget for the County’s Public Works Department is $4.5 to $5.0 million dollars.  In contrast, the annual SPLOST budget for County-Wide and Unincorporated County Projects is over $19 million dollars per year. 
   
   
2. SPLOST represents an increase in County services.  SPLOST-funded work is not in lieu of normal practices. 
   
   
3. The SPLOST provides greater restrictions on government spending of tax-payer dollars as compared to money in the General Fund.  SPLOST money must be used for specific transportation improvements approved by County citizens via the November 2, 2004 referendum election. 
   
   
4. State and Federal transportation aid programs generally require a certain percentage of local matching funds.  SPLOST provides these matching funds and therefore indirectly generates millions of additional dollars in State or Federal aid to assist with transportation projects. 
   
   
5. The SPLOST is set for a specific duration (i.e., March 31, 2010), after which the tax expires unless renewed by the citizens of the County.