|
Access
this area easily by using www.splost.com.
For
more detailed information, photos, drawings and other documents...
The
SPLOST Annual Report for 2003 is now available online as a PDF
file. (Note:
It is over 2 megabytes in size. Also, if you want to print it
out, make sure to select the 'Fit to Paper' page scaling due
to the report's dimensions)
SPLOST
General Information
On
November 2, 2004, Athens-Clarke County voters approved the SPLOST (Special
Purpose Local Option
Sales Tax) 2005 referendum that allowed for the continuation of a one-cent
sales tax to fund a diverse list community projects.
In
1999 and 1994, voters in Athens-Clarke County also approved an extra
penny in sales tax to fund packages of diverse community
projects
over five years. In years prior to 1994, SPLOST funds also provided
for the restoration of the historic Morton Theatre, the creation of
the
Classic
Center,
expansion
of the landfill, establishment of a regional library, expansion of
the jail and the addition of an annex and parking deck to the Athens-Clarke
County Courthouse.
Cents
and Sensibility
Georgia law
allows local jurisdictions as of July 1, 1985 to use SPLOST proceeds for
capital improvement projects that would otherwise be paid for with General
Fund and property tax revenues. In some cases, the cost of these types
of community enhancements would present too great a burden to the taxpayers
to ever be undertaken. In other cases, the projects would be completed
but at a much higher cost to the community. For instance, if a project
requires the use of bonds, the cost to the community is virtually double
what it would be in paid for in cash.
SPLOST
Allows ACC to Remain Debt Free and Leverage Federal and State Monies
By using
SPLOST funding to pay for improvements to our public safety, infrastructure
and quality of life, Athens-Clarke County entered the 21st Century
completely debt free. The program has allowed ACC to capitalize on
strong
economic conditions of the 1990s, pay for enhancements in cash and, by
the end of the program, pay off the extremely low level of General
Obligation
Bonds remaining.
In addition,
SPLOST has provided the local match for a wide variety of infrastructure
improvements and allowed ACC to leverage state and federal transportation
funds for the maximum impact on our community.
SPLOST
Provides an Equitable Source of Support for Capital Projects
The smallest
geographic county and the 14th most populous in the state, Athens-Clarke
County serves Northeast Georgia as a regional center for employment,
commerce and recreation. According to the September 20, 1998 Athens
Banner-Herald,
roughly 1/3 of the work force commutes to the Athens-Clarke County for
work. With 40,000 people in our workforce and approximately 18,000
commuting
from outside ACC, we have an opportunity to use the sales tax dollars
that non-residents spend here to ease the burden on local property
taxpayers. SPLOST has provided a fair way for citizens of the region
to support
the services and infrastructure they utilize in Athens-Clarke County.
SPLOST
Gives Our Community a Shared Vision
SPLOST gives
ACC community members the opportunity to participate in a shared vision
for our future. All SPLOST buildings have been constructed with a lengthy
projected life span and all of the projects help the Athens
of
today live up to the oath taken by ancient Greek Athenians: to leave
this community "greater and more beautiful than it was transmitted
to us."
SPLOST
Citizen Involvement
The success
of the SPLOST programs are directly affected by the hard work of citizen
volunteers and community participation. The Athens-Clarke County Commission
appointed community members to craft the programs for the 2004, 1999
and 1994 votes. Members
of the committees have continued to work with the ACC staff
and elected officials as the Citizens Advisory Committees for each
program. Additionally, community meetings are an integral component
of many SPLOST projects.
SPLOST
Program Management - Jordan,
Jones and Goulding (JJ&G)
Don Martin - Program Manager
Phone:
(706) 613-3025
Fax: (706) 613-3944
Mail:SPLOST
Program Management
City Hall
301 College Avenue, Suite 101
Athens, GA 30601
For more
information about both the SPLOST IV and SPLOST 2000 Programs, read the
SPLOST IV Progress Reports and the SPLOST
2000 Progress Reports. |
