Little splash for SPLOST in Jackson County

Jackson County and its nine city governments are finalizing the list of projects to give voters before they go to the polls Nov. 2 to renew the county's 1 percent sales tax.

Although the details are pending, county leaders are warning voters now that this year's project list isn't looking too fun.

"I think at this time, and at the point that we all are financially, (the voters) really want to see this money used to provide things that we need - not on something that we might be able to put off for three or four years," said Hoschton City Councilwoman Theresa Kenerly. "Parks are wonderful, but at this point, we need to be focusing on our necessities, like everyone else."

The county's last five special-purpose, local-option sales tax programs have included a lot of commonsense infrastructure projects like waterlines and roads, but there's always been a few parks, fire training centers or community buildings to get voters excited about going to the polls.

This year, county officials are planning to use the vast majority of the estimated $45.7 million in sales tax revenue to pay off debt their governments took on during the past 20 years trying to keep up with the burgeoning county's demands for new roads and utility service.

Voters approved the current SPLOST in 2005. It will raise about $53 million by the time it expires next June, Jackson County Finance Director John Hulsey said at the beginning of the year.

The county has used the money for projects such as the East Jackson County Park and Sports Complex and part of the new jail and fire training center.

Commissioners and city council members can use the tax only for the specific projects that are listed as part of the referendum.

Jackson County plans to use its 62 percent of the revenue to finish repaying the multimillion-dollar bonds taken out to build the county's new jail and to

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Home Site Map Subscribe to our Monthly Email Newsletter	Rutherford County Little splash for SPLOST in Jackson County Jackson County and its nine city governments are finalizing the list of projects to give voters before they go to the polls Nov. 2 to renew the county's 1 percent sales tax. Although the details are pending, county leaders are warning voters now that this year's project list isn't looking too fun. "I think at this time, and at the point that we all are financially, (the voters) really want to see this money used to provide things that we need - not on something that we might be able to put off for three or four years," said Hoschton City Councilwoman Theresa Kenerly. "Parks are wonderful, but at this point, we need to be focusing on our necessities, like everyone else." The county's last five special-purpose, local-option sales tax programs have included a lot of commonsense infrastructure projects like waterlines and roads, but there's always been a few parks, fire training centers or community buildings to get voters excited about going to the polls. This year, county officials are planning to use the vast majority of the estimated $45.7 million in sales tax revenue to pay off debt their governments took on during the past 20 years trying to keep up with the burgeoning county's demands for new roads and utility service. Voters approved the current SPLOST in 2005. It will raise about $53 million by the time it expires next June, Jackson County Finance Director John Hulsey said at the beginning of the year. The county has used the money for projects such as the East Jackson County Park and Sports Complex and part of the new jail and fire training center. Commissioners and city council members can use the tax only for the specific projects that are listed as part of the referendum. Jackson County plans to use its 62 percent of the revenue to finish repaying the multimillion-dollar bonds taken out to build the county's new jail and to Continue reading the rest of "Little splash for SPLOST in Jackson County" by Athens Banner-Herald © 2009 http://onlineathens.com - Athens Banner-Herald - All rights reserved. Rate This Article: Comment on "Little splash for SPLOST in Jackson County" Your Name Your Comments Verification Code: MT5362 Enter Code: Jackson County juggling trio at quarterback position JEFFERSON - It might not be perfect, but Jackson County coach Billy Kirk has gone to the Cerberus approach to quarterbacking - three heads are better than one. Preview: Jackson County at Oconee County When and where: 7:30 p.m. tonight at Warrior Stadium Residents like-minded on Jackson County's future COMMERCE - With about 60,000 residents spread out over 342 square miles, creating a unified vision for Jackson County's future is complicated. Little splash for SPLOST in Jackson County Jackson County and its nine city governments are finalizing the list of projects to give voters before they go to the polls Nov. 2 to renew the county's 1 percent sales tax. Jackson County settles suit with landowner More than four years ago, Jackson County officials decided they needed about .07 acres of J.B. Alexander's property on Maysville Road to build Steve Reynolds Industrial Parkway, an access road into a Jackson County Industrial Development Authority industrial park.