Oconee Town Hall Meeting Shows Demand For 2021 SPLOST Funds

Last week’s virtual Board of Commissioners Town Hall meeting was billed as focusing on two topics, the 2021 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax referendum being planned for the Nov. 3 ballot and roadway improvements on Malcom Bridge Road.

The commissioners, as is usual, also took questions from the audience.

To start the meeting, county department heads and administrators laid out a long list of projects for SPLOST 2021, including money for roadway resurfacing and a new library and administrative building.

Wes Geddings told the Commission he wasn’t yet ready to project revenue from the proposed six-year, one percent sales tax, but the projects presented almost certainly will exceed the amount of money expected, meaning considerable trimming is needed.

The meeting also focused on spending from the current SPLOST 2015, which will not expire until the end of 2021.

Commission Chair John Daniell laid out ongoing and completed construction projects for Malcom Bridge Road to Lenru Road, including in front of the bus and staff entrance to Malcom Bridge Middle and Elementary schools and in front of the parent entrance to the middle school.

Most of the questions submitted in advance and from the audience–linked remotely to the staff and commissioners in the Courthouse because of the pandemic–dealt with the Malcom Bridge Roadway project.

Daniell emphasized more clearly than in any other settings that a primary goal of the improvements in front of the schools is get the deputy out of the roadway for safety purposes.

For more on the story, please go to Oconee County Observations.