Gwinnett Voters Approve More SPLOST

Gwinnett County voters overwhelmingly voted to continue a 1-percent Special Purpose Local Optional Sales Tax (SPLOST) in Tuesday’s elections.

More than 58 percent voted in favor of three more years of the sales tax, much of which will be ear-marked to fund infrastructure projects, such as road improvements. The Gwinnett County website has a breakdown.

According to the Georgia Secretary of State website, a total of 37,146 votes had been counted — 21,647 (58.28 percent) for the measure, and 15,499 (41.72 percent) against.

Gwinnett officials estimate that the new three-year SPLOST could bring in as much as $498 million. It has been called "critical" by one Gwinnett mayor.

The current tax has been in effect since 2009. And a SPLOST has been in effect in Gwinnett every year but one since 1985.