Last week Gwinnett County voters approved the renewal of a 1-cent special local option sales tax (SPLOST) for road, parks, libraries and other construction projects. So what comes next? How will they spend the money? Here's what you need to know.
The history: Gwinnett County has used the tax to pay for billions of dollars of improvements since voters first approved the SPLOST in 1985. This year's renewal was widely expected. Voters have failed to renew the tax only once – in 1996 – and they approved a modified proposal the following year.
The details: The latest tax is expected to generate $950 million for local governments over six year, beginning April. Gwinnett County will get about $748.2 million, with the county's 16 cities splitting nearly $202 million.
The biggest share of the county’s money ($486.3 million) will go to road and other transportation projects, with recreation facilities ($108.5 million) getting much of the rest. A civic center expansion ($67.3 million), public safety facilities and equipment ($52.4 million), libraries ($22.4 million) and senior service facilities ($11.2 million) also will get money.
What's next: The Gwinnett Board of Commissioners will ultimately decide how to spend the county's money. The Citizens Project Selection Committee will recommend specific transportation projects. The group will meet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville, to begin that process.
More information: You can find detailed information on the county's SPLOST program at www.gwinnettcounty.com.
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