Third Quarter SPLOST Revenue Grows Only Slightly As Oconee County Begins Voting On New SPLOST Referendum

Oconee County Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax revenue increased by less than a percentage point in the third quarter of 2014, while neighboring Clarke and Barrow counties experienced strong growth.

The third quarter report included only about six weeks in which electronics retailer Best Buy was operating in the county, since tax distributions are a month delayed. But other major retailers in Epps Bridge Centre have been operating for nearly a year.

SPLOST revenues increased only $4,686 for the September distribution (August sales) over the disbursement from a month earlier (for July). That is just less than 1 percent growth rate.

The county has projected that SPLOST 2015, which voters will have a chance to express their views on starting at 8 a.m. Monday, will bring in $55.6 million in revenue, but it will take much stronger quarterly growth to reach that figure.

Early voting will be Monday through Friday from Oct. 13 to Oct. 31 in the office of the Board of Elections and Registration, 10 Court Street, next door to the courthouse in Watkinsville. That office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m..

For details on the story, go to Oconee County Observations.

Pictured: Chamber of Commerce Yard Sign.