Officials plan SPLOST spending
Columbia County commissioners last week established how to spend millions in remaining sales tax revenues.
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Officials expect to collect more than $14.5 million before the current run of the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax concludes at the end of this year.
During a recent meeting, officials separated proposed projects into two phases and gave approval for work to get started on phase one projects.
Those projects include road resurfacing and other transportation projects; construction of a building for maintenance and broadband uses; partial construction of the Evans Town Center Park; land purchases for recreation uses; and a relief sewer system for Euchee Creek.
About $6.5 million is designated for phase one projects.
Commissioners said that they want department heads to continue a study of projects designated for phase two. Those projects include more road resurfacing, adding to a traffic signal system; recycling center construction at Riverview Park; building an exhibition hall, parking and multi-purpose trails at the Gateway area near Grovetown; maintenance of fire stations; and purchasing handsets for a new public safety radio system.
Overall collections for the remainder of the sales tax term likely will top $15.6 million, and some of the money will be shared with the county's municipalities.
Harlem and Grovetown will share about $1.1 million from 1-percent sales tax dollars for capital projects.
Proposed 2006-10 splost projects
Phase One
Resurfacing roads: $1.4 million
Transportation discretionary funds: $500,000
Capital maintenance: $600,000
Broadband utility and maintenance building: $400,000
Evans Town Center Park: $1.2 million
Land purchases for recreation: $900,000
Euchee Creek relief sewer: $1.5 million
Phase Two
Rhythm traffic signal additions: $250,000
Recycling center at Riverside Park: $300,000
Exhibition center in the Gateway area: $3.9 million
Gateway parking and multi-purpose trails: $1.6 million
Traffic control system for emergency vehicles: $500,000
Fire station and equipment maintenance: $500,000
Handsets for 800 megahurtz radio system: $1 million