History of SPLOST in Union County

So, how could a community like Union County judge whether or not an initiative like SPLOST has been successful? Pretty simple. We just look back at what's been accomplished. As you probably know, SPLOST is a voter-approved 1% sales tax dedicated exclusively to funding capital investment projects such as infrastructure, public safety, and quality of life enhancements that helps transform and maintain essential county facilities and services.

What do you think it is that most people don't understand about SPLOST? So, a common misconception is that SPLOST is a slush fund that the county can just do whatever we want with, and that's not the case, there's rules and regulations. We are able to do a lot of things with SPLOST funds, things that cost millions and millions of dollars every year and use SPLOST funds rather than property tax dollars.

SPLOST roughly brings in $7 million a year, one penny. If we did not have SPLOST, that $7 million would have to come from property taxes. If you're getting up, you'd have to borrow money to take care of a bridge or a roof real fast. With the SPLOST, we're not having to up the taxes so much.

There's so much and so many things, I'm actually going to have to refer to my list if that's okay. Farmer's Market, Cannery, Toy Story Schoolhouse. So obviously the list of projects that SPLOST has funded is long, but the projects are also quite necessary for a healthy community. People have a lot of arguments against SPLOST. I'm not understanding how those arguments fit into the reality. They kind of don't, because the reality is these things have to be done.

These functions have to happen within county government and you can either pay for it via property taxes, or you can pay for it with SPLOST, which is paid by anybody who comes through. A building for the new big baler, a big shredder. The addition to the recycle building also purchased the trucks, trailers, forklift, backhoe and other equipment they use at the Union County Transfer Station. We have done paving, striping, signage, surface treatment.

And while the federal government prints and borrows money which obviously leads to waste, here in Union County leadership is focused on transparency and being good stewards of all taxpayer dollars. It's all public record, it's all audited through our yearly audit. We have all records, everything's maintained. Solid waste and recycling. We upgraded the main transfer station and the recycling center equipment. The new Union County Community Center was built. We've got many culverts that we've repaired and replaced throughout the county. We want to be good stewards of the taxpayer's dollar. I live here too. All most of our employees live here, we want our tax dollars spent well as well.

So clearly, SPLOST funds so many projects, things we take for granted that keep Union County moving and make it one of the greatest places in America to live and to visit.