Bill would expand tracking of SPLOST money

County residents could get more insight into how Special Purpose Local Option Sales Taxes are spent under a proposed law.

Voters approve the taxes, which are spent on infrastructure such as roads, public safety and libraries.

House Bill 814 would make local governments disclose any surplus money not spent for an approved project, the estimated date of completion for projects funded and the actual cost of projects once finished. Local governments already publish yearly a report showing money spent, costs changes in approved projects and how much is spent yearly.

“SPLOSTs allow voters to decide whether they want to be taxed to support a very specific project, but once their approval is given, voters have very little oversight in assuring that their hard-earned money is used appropriately," said the bill's primary sponsor, Rep. Alex Atwood, R-St. Simons. "HB 814 would rectify this by allowing voters to see exactly how much money their tax generates and how that money is used."

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