A yes vote for TSPLOST will continue funding for local road improvements projects
The TSPLOST referendum on this year’s ballot is not a new tax. If approved, it will be a continuation of a special one percent (1%) sales and use tax collected over the next five years that will generate an estimated amount of $5,500,000.00 to be used for transportation infrastructure purposes in Donalsonville, Iron City and throughout all of Seminole County.
65.62% of that amount will be earmarked for use Seminole County, 30.97% for use in the City of Donalsonville and 3.41% for use in the Town of Iron City.
Local leaders are asking Seminole County voters to vote “yes” again on the continuation of the penny tax, which was overwhelmingly approved by local voters five years ago in the last General Election.
Roadway improvements completed using funds generated from the 1% TSPLOST tax over the last five years include improvements made to Braswell Godby Road from State Route 285 to State Route 253, Reynolds Landing Road beginning at State Route 253, Three Notch Road from US 84 to Ash Crossing Road, TN Smith Road from State Route 91 to Burlow Bush Road, John Thursby Road from Reynolds Landing Road to Spring Creek Drive, Stapleton Drive from State Route 37 to Lake Carrol Drive, Hall Drive from State Route 39 to turn around, and Seminole Shores from State Route 374 to the end of pavement.
Projects including asphalt resurfacing, surface treatment, road widening and striping completed in areas along those roadways were completely funded through proceeds from the TSPLOST – a estimated total cost of $2,644,411.
With a TSPLOST in place, in addition to locals choosing the projects, communities also get to pay less because they only have to match GDOT with 10% of the costs instead of the typical 30%.
Good reasons to Vote Yes for a new TSPLOST include:
It makes sense that the people who use the streets, roads, sidewalks and bike trails in Seminole County should help pay for them including those who visit here. A fair tax paid by everyone who buys anything in our county is the right answer.
All money collected will be spent right here in Seminole County.
Rather than seeking general obligation debt backed up by property taxes, the State of Georgia has made available to Seminole County and each of Georgia’s 159 counties an alternative sales tax option to fund transportation infrastructure. Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax commonly referred to as TSPLOST is a fairer way to fund needed transportation infrastructure improvements.
To accomplish everything on our list without TSPLOST would be highly improbable and nearly impossible. Many transportation enhancements simply could not be completed without looking to property owners to shoulder that burden. The more likely scenario probably would be that these projects would simply not be accomplished. Seminole County Commissioners and Donalsonville and Iron City’s Mayors and Council Member don’t want to raise property taxes, so they need your help in funding these badly needed transportation expenses in an alternate way. TSPLOST is the answer.
Also a substantial percentage of local sales taxes are paid by tourists. Taxes of more than $3.1 billion were directly and indirectly generated by tourism in Georgia in 2020. Each household in Georgia would need to be taxed an additional $870 per year to replace the tourism taxes received by state and local governments.
