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Since 1987, when the first Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax was passed, Valdosta and Lowndes County have been able to build a multitude of capital outlay projects for a penny on the dollar.
The SPLOST has the unique ability to gather funds on a local level, keeping Lowndes County taxes inside Lowndes County, bringing money to Valdosta and keeping it there, said Valdosta City Manager Larry Hanson.
With SPLOST in place, locals and visitors alike contribute to the funding of major municipal projects through a 1 percent sales tax any time they make a purchase. The seventh cycle of the SPLOST will appear on the Nov. 6 ballot.
If passed, SPLOST VII is expected to pay for the construction of a new municipal auditorium and library facility in the Five Points area. There is no other source of funding for these projects; if voters turn down the SPLOST, it will be very difficult to fund these projects, as well as others.
The current cycle of SPLOST VI will expire December 2013. The SPLOST is distinctly different from the T-SPLOST, which was designed to fund transportation projects only and was voted down on July 31.
During the past quarter of a century, SPLOST has helped fund 20 Lowndes County projects totaling more than $43 million and 27 projects for the City of Valdosta totaling more than $63 million.
Lowndes County projects include the construction of the Lowndes County Judicial-Administrative Complex, which cost $30.35 million; upgrades to the Lowndes County Jail, costing more than $6 million; and the construction of the Lowndes County Emergency Operations Center, costing $2.69 million.
For Valdosta, the most expensive projects funded solely or in part by SPLOST include the construction of a state-of-the-art water-treatment plant on Guest Road with a price tag of $19.75 million;
renovations to the
downtown Streetscape, costing $12 million; and the
construction of the James H. Rainwater Conference Center, totaling more than $5.8 million.
The purchase of a 100-foot aerial platform fire truck allowed Valdosta to construct multi-level buildings, contributing to the business growth of the community, Hanson said. Hotels, the Lowndes County Judicial and Administrative Complex, South Georgia Medical Center and Valdosta State University are now able to build up rather than out to make more efficient use of property.
These fire trucks, as well as other capital improvements, have helped the city and county lower property taxes and water and sewer service rates.
“SPLOST collections lighten the load of property tax payers,” Lowndes County Manager Joe Pritchard said. “The financial health of our community continues to weather the storm that has destroyed local governments across the nation; SPLOST continues to play a role in this success.”
SPLOST Funding Since 1987 (approximate)
Lowndes County
Lowndes County Judicial-Administrative Complex: $30.35 million
Lowndes County Jail Upgrades: Phase I, $6.03 million; Phase II, $18,100
Pavilion at Langdale Park: $41,100
Pavilion at Clyattville Park: $76,000
Pavilion at North Lowndes: $40,000
Design for South Lowndes Backstop and Scoreboard: $25,000 (bid)
Walking tracks in Clyattville and Naylor: $87,600
Playground equipment for County parks: $260,000
Park Amenities Project: $40,000
Animal Shelter Improvements: $34,650
Fire Rescue Training Tower, burn trainer and drill field improvements: $141,400
Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office Firing Range: $250,000
Lowndes County Emergency Operations Center: $2.7 million
Clyattville fire station: $499,900
Hospital Authority Parking Facility: $1.5 million
Airport Authority – Airport and Hangar: $750,000
Lakes Library improvements: $50,250
Southside Library: $68,700
Hahira Library: $80,700
Books for the library: $25,000
Valdosta
Water Treatment Plant: $19.75 million
Fire Station #1: $1.8 million
Fire Station #5: $318,000
Fire Station #6: $606,000
Aerial Fire Truck: $788,600
Three Pumper Truck: $850,000
Fire Station #3: $520,000
Fire Station #4: $230,000
Rainwater Conference Center: $5.8 million
Crime Lab: $3.57 million (with grants)
Airport Terminal renovations: $1.18 million
Airport drainage and utilities: $775,000
Freedom Park phase one: $3.72 million
Freedom Park phase two: $1.13 million
Senior Citizen Center: $844,000
Senior Center pool and amenities: $522,00
McKey Park Tennis Center: $1.45 million
Vallotton Park: $524,000
Scott Park: $1.3 million
Saunders Park: $1.3 million
Wood Valley Community Center: $981,000
Forrest Street Community Center: $1.04 million (with grants)
MLK Memorial Park: $1 million (with grant)
Norman Drive widening: $358,000 (with GDOT contribution)
Lake Laurie Drive extension: $513,000
Valdosta Mall area road widening: $597,000
Downtown Streetscape: $12 million (SPLOST, state and federal grants and CID tax)
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