2006 SPLOST vs. 2007 SPLOST
On September 18th the public has a chance to attend “Round 2” for voting on the latest version of SPLOST. Last July the public disapproved the 2006 SPLOST referendum on many premises, the new County jail likely the culprit intentionally receiving all incoming funds first.
The disapproval of the 2006 SPLOST resonated through the County government and local municipalities, forcing politicians to revise SPLOST projects while injecting the possibility of impact fees. Nowadays information about impact fees has vanished into a filing cabinet and the advent of SPLOST has returned once more.
Tomorrow the five year ordeal known as the 2002 SPLOST will officially becoming to an end while bringing about a return of the 6% sales tax. How long this percentage lasts depends on the people who live in Douglas County. The question that everyone should be asking is: what’s the difference between the 2006 SPLOST and 2007 SPLOST? Let us find out for ourselves, shall we.
What is SPLOST?
SPLOST is an acronym for Special Purpose Local Options Sales Tax which is a sales and use tax intended to collect additional funding for improving older public goods and constructing new facilities for the general public, i.e. roads, parks, public safety. The special purpose taxation has a limited lifetime where it will expire at a certain date (usually after five years) or may be extended by public approval.
What’s the Difference?
That’s a good question. The average person may look at the two different versions of SPLOST to find them to be about the same. Surfacing again is the new County jail, Lithia Springs Park, senior center (which dates back to the 2002 SPLOST), equestrian center, and a few road projects. However there are some significant changes that voters do need to be aware about.
As the County’s press release stated, SPLOST is anticipated to raise approximately $166 million over the course of six years, not five years like the 2002 SPLOST. Although the resolution signed by the Board of Commissioners on May 15th indicates that a minimum of $150,695,000 will be collected.
New County Jail
First and foremost is how funds for the new County jail would be accrued. In 2006 it was proposed that SPLOST pay entirely for the new jail, totaling $87,262,200, by collecting all incoming monies before any other project. If construction costs were to overrun, additional funding could be pulled from other SPLOST projects (which was commonplace during the 2002 SPLOST).
In the latest revision of SPLOST the new jail is to be paid for by 50% of all monies collected in order to raise $120 million due to its Tier 1 status. Earlier this month the Sheriff’s Department declared a cost of $130 million (this information has apparently disappeared from the website). As noted before, the breakdown of the cost was as follows: 1) $83 million for construction, 2) 12 year bond of $27 million with supposedly $10 million for land acquisition.
The official name for this project is dubbed the “County Jail Project” and proceeds from the 2007 SPLOST that are intended for the new jail ‘shall be used to pay a portion of the principal of and interest’ of the 2007 SPLOST.
Lithia Springs Park (Woodrow Wilson/Lithia Springs Girls Parks)
The renovation of Woodrow Wilson Park and the Lithia Springs Girls Park was originally listed on the 2002 SPLOST informational brochure with the intention to have over $700,000 in funds raised. Those funds were dramatically reduced: Woodrow Wilson Park went from $470,580 to 85,715, a difference of $384,865 (the project has also gone over budget by $2,000); Lithia Springs Girls Park went from $234,781 to $38,838, a difference of $295,943 (no funds remain today). A total deduction of both renovations equaled $124,553.
Hurricane Dennis occurred in July of 2005 causing extensive flooding throughout Douglas County, permanently damaging both parks thus becoming a flood plain for Sweetwater Creek. The flooding prompted that both parks should be relocated south to the corner of Skyview Drive and Mt. Vernon Road under the name of Lithia Springs Park.
The 2006 SPLOST would have provided $600,000 for the newly relocated park, but would have been $105,361 short of the combined original budget from 2002. According to the 2007 SPLOST, Lithia Springs Park is to have four ball fields, concession stand with restrooms, lighting by Musco, and a pavilion (which is likely a recreation center).
Equestrian/Multi-Purpose Arena
The equestrian center first appeared on the 2006 SPLOST proposal at a cost of $1.5 million with an unknown location. As of 2007 the project has reappeared at an unknown cost, but is to be located somewhere at Boundary Waters Park. In referencing to the original 2003 master plan for Boundary Waters, there was no indication of an equestrian center/multi-purpose arena.
A non-profit organization, Bark N Trot Parks Foundation, is greatly pushing for a 55 acre equestrian center at Boundary Waters Park. It is rumored that the organization is planning to provide at least half of the monies needed for the project. Geographically speaking, the center would be more suited for people who live in southeast Fulton County (were farms are more prominent) than those who reside in eastern Douglas County. Nowadays the majority of farmer and ranchers reside in the very western portion of the county.
Chapel Hill Library
A library for the Chapel Hill community first came about on the “Identification of Needs” presentation that was in correspondence with impact fees. The presentation revealed that the County has plans to increase the number of libraries over the course of seventeen years. It appeared that the 30,000 square foot library was slated to be built in 2014 at a cost of $7.5 million and would be located between Chapel Hill Middle School and the Stratford subdivision.
Today the Chapel Hill Library and Performance Center is considered as a package deal based on the Board of Commissioner’s resolution – “acquisition, construction and equipping of a library/performing center arts center by the County (the “Library /Performing Arts Center Project”)”. Also proceeds from the “Library/Performing Arts Center Project” shall be used to pay a portion of the principal of and interest’ of the 2007 SPLOST. The library is intended to become the headquarters for the library system of Douglas County.
Local citizens have been pressuring the County to provide a new library somewhere south of Interstate 20. Earlier this month Governor Perdue vetoed the funding need to construct the Fairplay Library.
Performing Arts Center
On the 2006 SPLOST proposal this project was referred as the “Performing Arts Venue” at a cost of $6,000,000. This year’s County PR campaign, called “One Douglas”, briefly describes that a new performing arts center would be located on the grounds of the Courthouse Campus, not in the Chapel Hill area.
In 2007 the project was shifted onto the 2007 SPLOST coupled with the new Chapel Hill Library. The arts center would be an indoor facility equipped with 750-1000 seats, stage and support services. Its location can be questionable considering the area is prominently residential, rather a park serves with a distinction of activity becoming a more suitable place for a performing arts center.
Currently the County does not own property in this particular area. The land between Stratford and the school is all owned by the Hall family.
Senior Center with Therapeutic Pool
This project is a ghost of the current SPLOST and its disturbing presence lingers on to this day. The forensic audit conducted last year revealed a slew of broken promises and political misguidance based on the actions of former Chairman Rita Rainwater and the rest of the Board of Commissioners. Douglas County citizens were under the impression that two senior centers would be built after approving SPLOST.
An intra-governmental agreement with the City of Douglasville, it was disclosed that one of the senior centers would be facilitated at West Pines Golf Course. Chairman Rainwater continually committed to the West Pines location for many months with the BOC defining the other senior center across the street from the Courthouse. County documentation disclosed that Chairman Rainwater never intended to build a senior center at West Pines nor provide SPLOST funding for construction.
Only one senior center was budgeted for the 2002 SPLOST, and even then the center was budgeted without the pool. In the five year fallout of the intended second senior citizen center, the project was reintroduced on the 2006 SPLOST referendum for $3.5 million. Comparing the figure to today’s cost-to-date figures regarding the 2002 SPLOST budget, there is a difference of $1,504,456 – over two times the original cost of just the construction for one center alone.
The disapproval of the 2006 SPLOST let the memory of a misguided senior citizen center continue to live on. Plans now indicate that the latest rendition of the senior center saga will emerge on the grounds adjacent to the Fire Station #1 in Lithia Springs. That’s if the next round of SPLOST is approved.
Priority Projects
Clarity speaks within the 2007 intergovernmental agreement and resolution, labeling certain projects of importance that will affect all citizens. Mentioned before were the “County Jail Project” (#1) and the “Library/Performing Arts Center Project” (#2).
Next priority is the “Bright Star Road Connector Project” that will connect Bright Star Road to Highway 5, paving blacktop through old farmland to divert traffic while increasing commercial businesses in the vicinity. If SPLOST is approved, the project “shall be commenced no later than March 28, 2008, and completed no later than December 31, 2008”.
The City of Douglasville also has something called the “Other Douglasville Transportation Project” which could have something to do with the realignment of Timber Ridge Drive of the Duralee Lane Extension from 2006.
The YMCA center at Hunter Park, which has been endorsed by Douglasville since impact fees surfaced, is being referred to as the “Joint Recreation Project”. There is no guarantee that a YMCA center will be built as indicated by the intergovernmental agreement as the YMCA is only “anticipated” since funding is for a recreation center.
The facility is to “include 45,000 square feet of indoor space, including meeting rooms, exercise machines and a therapeutic pool; construction of the recreation center shall commence no later than March 28, 2009, and shall be completed no later than December 31, 2010”.
Monies from the 2002 SPLOST that were intended to fund the renovation of Hunter Memorial Park were $4.8 million dollars. After five years only $582,754 has been spent on the park, most of which was used to create a new master plan. On top of that the money in the SPLOST fund has earned $1.4 million in interest that has yet to be spent. According to City Manager Bill Osborne the money was largely used for a new master plan, unfortunately that plan did not show a YMCA or new recreation center.
If and when the new County jail is relocated to Fairburn Road, the City of Douglasville will wither buy the old jail and convert into the Public Safety Building, or officially dubbed as the “Douglasville Public Safety Project”, or purchase land elsewhere for the new building. In the 2006 SPLOST, funds totaling $6 million would have paid for the purchase of the old jail property and remodeling on the basis of the SPLOST public hearing on July 6, 2006.
The newly estimated cost for the Public Safety Building is $18 million with the 2007 SPLOST providing $4.6 million in addition to “financing with the Georgia Municipal Association for $7.4, million with the remaining $5 million in project costs to be provided by the City of Douglasville Police Department from seized drug funds.”
Lastly is the new communication system for public safety officials within the Douglasville city limits. Called the “Radio Communications Project”, it is intended to upgrade equipment and be able to cover portions of eastern Douglas County for the community of the Tributary at New Manchester, while allowing officers to communicate further east down Interstate 20.
The 2006 SPLOST would have allocated $3,713,653.96 to help build the new communications system, however more funds would have to be fulfilled by other means. The 2007 SPLOST proposal introduces an increase of funding to approximately $4.4 million (a difference of roughly $886,000) with additional being needed.
Projects that have not been listed are subject to change by many different factors, and the citizens of Douglas County know this very well. More detailed information on the rest of the projects should be available closer to voting time in September.
Comparison of Funding
|
Douglas County Overall Costs |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sections |
2006 |
2007 |
Difference |
|
Transportation Infrastructure |
$22,629,997.20 |
$26,000,000 |
+$3,370,002.80 |
|
Parks & Recreation |
$21,629,997.20 |
$14,000,000 |
-$7,629,997.2 |
|
Fire/EMS |
$1,000,000 |
$1,500,000 |
+$500,000 |
|
Administrative Services |
N/A |
($617,200)* |
(+$617,200)* |
|
Library/Performing Arts Center |
N/A |
($20,000,000)* |
(+$20,000,000)* |
|
New Jail |
$87,262,200 |
$86,000,000 |
-$1,262,2000 |
|
Total |
$132,522,194.40 |
$127,500,000 |
-$16,381,994.4 |
|
Total Without Jail |
$45,259,994.40 |
$41,500,000 |
-$3,759,994.4 |
|
City of Douglasville Overall Costs |
|||
|
Transportation Infrastructure |
$951,000 |
$2,360,000 |
+$1,409,000 |
|
Parks & Recreation |
$2,000,000 |
$7,700,000 |
+$5,700,000 |
|
Public Safety |
$6,000,000 |
$4,600,000 |
+$1,400,000 |
|
Communications |
$3,713,653.96 |
$4,400,000 |
-$686,346.04 |
|
Total |
$12,664,653.96 |
$19,060,000 |
+$6,395,346.04 |
|
City of Villa Rica Overall Costs |
|||
|
Transportation Infrastructure |
$56,235.64 |
$1,348,750 |
+$1,292,514.39 |
|
Water & Sewer |
$56,235.64 |
$1,348,750 |
+$1,292,514.39 |
|
Parks & Recreation |
$56,235.64 |
($697,500)* |
(+$641,264.36)* |
|
Total |
$168,706.92 |
$2,697,500 |
+$2,585,028.78 |
|
City of Austell Overall Costs |
|||
|
Transportation Infrastructure |
$20,361.18 |
$29,050 |
+$8,688.82 |
|
Parks & Recreation |
$61,083.54 |
$87,150 |
+$26,066.46 |
|
Total |
$81,444.72 |
$116,200 |
+$34,755.28 |
|
Overall SPLOST Total Costs |
|||
|
Total |
$145,437,000 |
$149,643,700 |
+$20,563,000 |
* 2007 Intergovernmental Agreement
|
Douglas County – Parks & Recreation |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Projects |
2006 |
2007 |
|
Lithia Springs Park |
$600,000 |
Rollover |
|
Clinton Nature Preserve |
$500,000 |
Dropped |
|
Winston Park* |
$1,500,000 |
Dropped |
|
Replacement Lighting/Park Improvements |
$2,400,000 |
Additional Funding |
|
Equestrian Center/Multi-purpose Arena |
$1,500,000 |
Additional Funding |
|
Performing Arts Venue |
$6,000,000 |
Rollover |
|
Senior Center* |
$3,500,000 |
Rollover |
|
4 Recreation Centers |
$7,000,000 |
Dropped |
|
Chestnut Log Soccer Complex |
N/A |
Added |
|
YMCA Center |
N/A |
Added, $6,000,000 |
|
Dog River Master Plan II |
N/A |
Additional Funding |
|
Total |
$23,000,000 |
$ 14,000,000 |
|
Difference |
|
-$9,000,000 |
* Rollover from 2002 SPLOST
|
Douglas County – Public Safety |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Projects |
2006 |
2007 |
|
New Jail |
$87,262,200 |
$86,000,000 |
|
Radio Communications Equipment |
$1,000,000 |
Dropped |
|
Industrial Fire Station |
N/A |
$1,500,000 |
|
Emergency Operations Center |
N/A |
Additional Funding |
|
Total |
$87,262,200 |
$87,500,000 |
|
Difference |
|
+$237,800 |
|
Douglas County – Transportation Infrastructure |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Projects |
2006 |
2007 |
|
Intersection Improvements/Reconstruction |
$6,400,000 |
Unknown |
|
Bridge Improvements |
$5,000,000 |
Unknown |
|
Traffic Signals and Signalization Control Center |
$8,600,000 |
N/A |
|
Intelligent Transportation System |
$1,000,000 |
N/A |
|
Bright Star Road Connector |
N/A |
$1,000,000 |
|
Renovation of Sheriff’s Office |
N/A |
$1,000,000 |
|
Emergency Operations Center |
N/A |
Additional Funding |
|
Total |
$23,000,000 |
$26,000,000 |
|
Difference |
|
+$3,000,000 |
Downloads
This article references many documents that are accessible to the public, but must be purchased through an open records request. Losing Georgia is providing these documents for citizens who want to look further into the SPLOST issue. If this article educated you in any, please consider making a donation in order for other articles of this caliber can be provided in the future.
All files are in PDF format, if you need a PDF reader check out Foxit Reader – fast and reliable.
- 2002 SPLOST Informational Brochure (265 KB)
- 2002 SPLOST Funds Forensic Audit Report (329 KB)
- 2002 SPLOST Forensic Audit – Parks and Recreation Projects (169 KB)
- 2002 SPLOST – Collections Summary 2007 (547 KB)
- 2006 SPLOST Information Brochure (105 KB)
- 2006 SPLOST Board of Commissioner’s Resolution (1.09 MB)
- 2006 SPLOST Official Notice (773 KB)
- 2007 SPLOST Projects Press Release (68.7 KB)
- 2007 SPLOST Board of Commissioner’s Resolution (1.9 MB)
- 2007 SPLOST Intergovernmental Agreement (2.1 MB)
Thank you for this phenomenal source of information.
August 26th, 2007 at 3:27 pmGEJ
@ Gordon
Not a problem
August 28th, 2007 at 7:18 am