HCC finalizes plan for SPLOST referendum

GAINESVILLE - The Hall County Board of Commissioners have given the final go-ahead for a special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) referendum next year.

The matter will be put to the voters March 17. SPLOST VI, if passed by voters, will take effect when the current SPLOST expires at the end of June 2009. The one-cent tax could generate up to $240 million for capital investment in local infrastructure during its six-year lifespan.

The following projects will be supported by the penny sales tax, if approved by voters:

Road and street improvements: $72 million
Water and sewer system projects: $53 million
Recreational facilities: $21 million
Courthouse Annex rehabilitation: $17 million
Fire and EMS vehicles: $4 million
Sheriff's Patrol headquarters: $10 million
Health Department expansion: $5 million
Correctional Institution building: $5 million
North Hall Library: $3 million
Relocation of Green Street Post Office: $3 million
Visitor's center: $1.5 million
Airport improvements: $0.5 million
Municipal projects: $45 million

The commission has also approved an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Gainesville for accelerated SPLOST VI payments. The county collects SPLOST revenue and will give Gainesville four years of accelerated payments. The city will not receive payments in the fifth and sixth years, but will reimburse the county for the interest lost due to accelerating the payments.

As of Nov. 30, Hall County had spent $111,188,159 on capital projects with the current penny sales tax, SPLOST V, which is expected to generate approximately $146 million by its expiration on June 30, 2009.