November vote on T-SPLOST could generate up to $200 million for local transportation projects

The Jackson County Board of Commissioners is leading an effort to organize a T-SPLOST vote with the county’s nine towns. County manager Kevin Poe recently met with mayors from the nine towns to discuss drafting an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) that would call for a November T-SPLOST referendum.

Each jurisdiction would decide how its share of the proceeds would be spent. The money would be divided based on the amount of road miles within each jurisdiction. It could be used for building new roads and interchanges, replacing bridges, upgrading existing roads, repaving, guardrails, repairs and other transportation infrastructure.

The timeline for calling a T-SPLOST vote would be for the county and cities to sign off on an IGA by July, a move that would then go to the Jackson County Board of Elections to be set on the November ballot.

If all nine towns agree to the IGA, the T-SPLOST could run for up to six years and raise an estimated $200 million. If there isn’t unanimity, the T-SPLOST would run for five years and raise an estimated $160 million. At least half of the county’s towns have to agree to the IGA for the vote to be called.

If approved, the extra penny sales tax would go into effect April 1, 2025.

HOW IT WOULD BE DIVIDED

Based on the road mileage formula, the county government would get 71.3% of the funds, an estimated $142.6 million over six years. In return, the county would agree to use its share to meet a T-SPLOST requirement that 30% of the money be consistent with the state strategic transportation plan.

Among the cities, Jefferson would get $20 million (10%), Commerce $14.8 million (7.4%), Braselton $5 million (2.5%), Hoschton $4.6 million (2.3%), Arcade $4.4 million (2.2%), Nicholson $3.8 million (1.9%), Maysville $2 million (1%), Pendergrass $1.6 million (.8%), and Talmo $1 million (.5%).

POLITICAL CHALLENGES

While Poe told the BOC that the mayors he met with were in agreement with the overall plan, there may be some political challenges ahead.

Hoschton Mayor Debbie Martin told her council Monday night that she planned to fight for a larger share of the funds for Hoschton (see other story). On the other hand, Commerce’s Mayor Clark Hill discussed the proposal with his council this week and there appeared to be agreement with the plans (see other story.)

The county itself will also have some political maneuvering to do among unincorporated voters.

While many of the county’s biggest transportation needs are on the high-growth west side, commissioner Marty Seagraves noted that there also have to be projects for the east side of the county to get public support among voters there.

Seagraves suggested that road resurfacing and repaving projects be outlined for projects on the east side of the county as a balance for some of the major intersection and new road projects needed on the west side.