Editor: TSPLOST — vote yes (again) it will provide our residents with much needed roads and infrastructure
In July of 2012, Bryan County overwhelmingly passed the TSPLOST so we could raise funds to improve our roads and other transportation related infrastructure — the only problem was that a majority of our neighboring counties voted against this TSPLOST referendum. Unfortunately, Bryan County was part of a 10 county coastal region and the majority (eight of 10) of the region’s counties voted against the TSLOST.
Other regions around our state passed the TSPLOST and they have truly benefited greatly through new road projects. The Georgia State legislature (SB 369) is now giving individual counties the opportunity through local referendum to decide for themselves if they wish to improve their roads and infrastructure.
Therefore, on May 22 (or early voting) of this year, Bryan County’s registered voters will have the opportunity to vote on a TSPLOST (transportation special purpose local option sales tax) that will generate in the neighborhood of $18-plus million over the next five years to be used for Bryan County’s transportation related projects.
These road projects are definitely needed and the only other alternative way to fund these projects would be to raise the millage rate which would generate funds through higher property taxes. This 1 percent sales tax will be paid by all shoppers in the county, meaning that a percentage of SPLOST revenues will also come from non-county residents.
We have experienced record growth over the past few years and this TSPLOST will give Bryan County the necessary funds to upgrade existing or build new roads, commence re-surfacing projects, facilitate traffic flows, install round abouts, etc.
In summary, Bryan County passed this TSPLOST before and now we have the chance to pass it again. A "yes" vote will insure much needed improvement on the very roads that we travel every day. Ultimately, it will improve our quality of life on a daily basis.
Sean Register
Bryan County taxpayer