Citizens Told To Expect A Vote On Transportation Sales Tax

Oconee County voters should not be surprised if at some time in the not-so-distant future they are asked to approved a county Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax to improve county roads.

That was the message delivered to those who attended a Town Hall Meeting held by the Oconee County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday night at the community center in Oconee Veterans Park.

Commissioner Chuck Horton raised the issue, arguing that the county simply has gotten behind in road patching and repair and that new money is needed to catch up on the process.

Commission Chair John Daniell and Commissioner Mark Thomas supported Horton.

Commissioners Mark Saxon and William “Bubber” Wilkes didn’t comment on the road problems or on the need for a new tax, but they also didn’t speak out in opposition.

Only 18 citizens attended the Town Hall meeting, in addition to five commissioners and four county staff members, but the conversation was lively during the session, which ran just more than an hour.

Transportation issues dominated the session.

For more details about the Town Hall meeting, please go to Oconee County Observations. A complete video of the meeting is embedded at the bottom of the post.