SPLOST ‘wish list’ at $170 million
County commissioners also award service pins to long-time employees.
Floyd County Manager Jamie McCord said Tuesday that an estimated $170 million worth of proposed projects would go before the SPLOST Citizens Advisory Committee for vetting.
The nearly 60 applications came from local citizens and organizations, as well as from the county government, Rome and Cave Spring, McCord told county commissioners at their bimonthly caucus.
“Everybody needs to remember, this is just a wish list,” Commission Chair Rhonda Wallace said. “This is just the beginning.”
A 5-year special purpose, local option sales tax — the maximum allowed by state law — is projected to raise about $61.7 million, so more than half the requests will end up being rejected.
The citizens committee will hear the first eight presentations Thursday, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The meeting, at the Forum River Center, 301 Tribune St., is open to the public.
Plans are to have a proposed package narrowed down by Aug. 1, and to present it to voters in the Nov. 7 elections. If approved, the collection would start when the 2013 SPLOST ends on March 31, 2019.
Also on Tuesday, commissioners recognized 39 long-time employees, awarding pins for service ranging from 42 years — Police Chief Bill Shiflett — to 15 years.
County Clerk Erin Elrod said the awards haven’t been made since 2009 and about 400 were overdue. The ceremonies will be held quarterly until they’re caught up, then revert to annually.
“This is a good way for us to see a lot of employees we don’t get to see,” Wallace noted.
Wallace also released a list of 10 positions on citizen boards that will start new terms this year. Anyone interested in serving may apply online at RomeFloydCounty.com.
Commissioners also heard that no transfer from savings was needed to cover 2016 expenses.
Finance Director Susie Gass said outside auditors are expected to have a final report before the end of the month.
“We were initially projected to use $2.2 million of the fund balance, but the budget is now balanced,” Gass said after the board approved some “clean-up” line-item shifts and adjustments.
“The audit may even show we have added to the fund balance,” she added.
McCord said they expected to collect about 92 percent of the taxes owed but ended up with a 97-percent payment rate. More than $700,000 owed from previous years also was recouped.