The Athens-Clarke County commissioners are changing how they fund transportation projects through the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST). TSPLOST, a 1% sales tax, funds various transportation projects approved by county voters. The current TSPLOST 2023 is meeting its revenue goals ahead of schedule, so the next TSPLOST vote will be in May 2026 instead of November 2026.
A significant change is that commissioners want to reserve a portion of the TSPLOST 2026 revenue upfront for essential projects like road paving and stormwater improvements, which are less exciting but crucial. Previously, the Citizens Committee, which helps select projects, didn't allocate enough funds for these basics, leading to last-minute changes and some dissatisfaction. Commissioners are considering reserving 40-50% of the funds for these necessary projects, leaving the Citizens Committee less money for other projects.
Most commissioners support this plan for its transparency and fairness, but some, like Mike Hamby, believe the commission can always adjust the project list before the final vote. The changes were approved 8-2, and the next step is appointing the Citizens Committee next month.
