Chatham County holds workshop on SPLOST; showcases balance needed in crafting list
That estimate marks the budget for a list of projects that will have to include priorities for the county and each of Chatham's eight municipalities. The revenue estimate was shared Monday at a SPLOST workshop for the Chatham County Board of Commissioners, the latest sign that that this year's SPLOST planning is moving forward.
Monday's workshop showed the challenges before the commissioners, however, namely adopting a project list that balances the county's with the municipalities' needs, while also making a list popular enough to be approved by voters.
'We want to put projects on the list that voters will want to come out and vote for, because the key behind all of this is if we don't get voters out, then we won't have a SPLOST,' Chatham County Manager Michael Kaigler said to the commissioners Monday.
Background: SPLOST Season: Chatham County begins push for eighth penny-sales-tax referendum this November
The Board of Commissioners is tasked with approving the list that ultimately ends up on the ballot for voter approval. But municipalities are also tasked with developing their own project lists, which will be presented to the Board of Commissioners. The board uses those lists to help compile the final slate of projects, ending in an intergovernmental agreement between the county and municipalities on the SPLOST's parameters.
SPLOST has been a mechanism for major projects across the county.
The city of Savannah has used it to build the Enmarket Arena while also investing in drainage improvements. County projects such as Memorial Stadium and Truman Parkway were also supported by SPLOST. Chatham County has seen more than $1.5 billion in investments from SPLOST, of which about 40% of the sales taxes are paid by visitors.
'People don't really realize just how much SPLOST has played in their life. You go around our community and evidence of SPLOST is all the way around,' said Savannah Mayor Van Johnson at a recent press conference.
Monday's workshop featured discussion on a range of potential projects drawn from the county's capital improvements budget. The total price tag on potential county projects is $669 million.
Commissioners referenced that total as an example of how the group will have to prioritize projects to fit within the expected revenues for the SPLOST collection period as well as what portion of those revenues will go toward county projects.
For SPLOST 7, which is currently in its collection period, the county's projects accounted for about 40% of the project list's costs. The other 60% was distributed between the city of Savannah and other municipalities such as Pooler and Port Wentworth.
'This board is going to have to prioritize what they think is important; you can't do everything,' Kaigler said.
County officials also debated potential projects and approaches to the list. District 6 Commissioner Aaron 'Adot' Whitely advocated strongly for inclusion of the indoor, multi-court sports complex, which the Board of Commissioners selected a site for late last year.
District 4 Commissioner Patrick Farrell also supported the project, saying it was also a project that could build public support for the SPLOST referendum.
'That's our sexiest project we've got. It's going to be very popular, and it could also be used for public safety uses,' Farrell said.
But support for the recreation facility as a top priority was not unanimous among commissioners at Monday's workshop. District 7 Commissioner Dean Kicklighter advocated for significant support of drainage and road improvements to address traffic issues, particularly on the county's booming westside.
Kicklighter said the recreation facility, which will be located on the southside of Savannah, would be a tough sell for him in neighborhoods he represents such as Southbridge, which have typically opposed SPLOSTs, he said.
Meanwhile, the city of Savannah is moving forward with its project-planning efforts.
Johnson announced Tuesday the city is conducting public input to learn what types of projects city residents would like to fund. An online survey (savannahga.gov/FormCenter/SPLOST-51/SPLOST-INPUT-515) has a component that allows residents a $100 budget to prioritize certain issues, a showcase of the budgeting challenge before the governmental entities.
Johnson previously said he would like to see a range of potential projects, from traffic improvements to major city initiatives. Specific issues he mentioned were traffic improvements to Highlands Boulevard and Benton Boulevard and some support for renovations to the Johnny Mercer Theatre.
'This is a very effective tool for us. I am hoping we approach it with some sense and some good judgement,' Johnson said, 'and that we create something that our residents can support.'
Evan Lasseter is the city of Savannah and Chatham County government reporter. You can reach him at ELasseter@savannahnow.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Chatham County workshops potential project list for penny sales tax
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