DeKalb sales tax project list decided, with focus on road repairs

The DeKalb Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to approve a list of projects that would be funded by a special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) over the next six years. From left: Commissioners Mereda Davis Johnson, Kathie Gannon, Jeff Rader, Larry Johnson, Nancy Jester, Steve Bradshaw and Greg Adams. MARK NIESSE / MARK.NIESSE@AJC.COM

The DeKalb Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to approve a list of projects that would be funded by a special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) over the next six years. From left: Commissioners Mereda Davis Johnson, Kathie Gannon, Jeff Rader, Larry Johnson, Nancy Jester, Steve Bradshaw and Greg Adams. MARK NIESSE / MARK.NIESSE@AJC.COM

The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday on a list of construction projects that would be funded by a proposed sales tax increase, with an emphasis on repairing bumpy roads.

The project list includes $151 million to repave the county's worst roads, nearly $85 million for fire stations and police protection, $82 million on transportation projects and $57 million for infrastructure improvements of parks, libraries and other facilities.

DeKalb voters will decide on the sales tax increase, from 7 percent to 8 percent, in a Nov. 7 referendum. The special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) would raise about $100 million a year, distributed proportionately based on population among unincorporated areas and cities.

The project list approved Tuesday covers a total of $388 million that would be raised from unincorporated DeKalb taxpayers. Another $249 million would go to city governments, which are deciding their own infrastructure project lists this month.

Commissioners voted 5-2 to pass the project list, with Commissioners Nancy Jester and Jeff Rader opposed.

The DeKalb Commission plans to vote to put the sales tax on the ballot next Tuesday.

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