New SPLOST collection would raise $272 million for Clayton, cities

Clayton County and its seven municipalities could raise nearly $272.3 million for roads and other needs, including aid to its ailing hospital, if voters approve a package of special-tax funded projects unveiled this week.

The plan, which calls for extending a 1-cent Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax over six years, beginning in 2015, goes to voters May 20.

The biggest chunk of the money - $86 million - would go toward roads and other transportation-related projects. However, Southern Regional Medical Center would get $50 million to help stave off its financial problems created by cuts in federal and state funding and escalating costs tied to caring for people who can’t pay. By law, hospitals can’t turn away the uninsured. The SPLOST money would be used to pay off hospital bonds. Only two cities agreed to give part of their SPLOST distribution toward the hospital. Riverdale will give $2.9 million while Lovejoy will give about $600,000.