Athens Reporter

A project request form for organizations and individuals to submit potential projects for consideration as part of a possible Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST) 2026 program for Athens-Clarke County is now available online at www.accgov.com/tsplost2026.

ACCGov will also host three public workshops to provide assistance and answer questions about the project request forms. These workshops will take place on:

- Tuesday, October 8, 2024 - 6:00 - 8:00 PM - Lay Park

- Thursday, October 10, 2024 - 6:00 - 8:00 PM - Lay Park (corrected)

- Saturday, October 19, 2024 - 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM - Lay Park

An instructional video to explain the project request form is also available online and on the ACCGov YouTube channel.

It is highly recommended that interested parties submit request forms as early as possible once they are complete to allow time for staff review and follow-up requests for any needed additional information. Projects will be reviewed in the order that they are received.

Project request forms are due no later than Sunday, November 10, 2024.

Potential TSPLOST projects can be very complicated and require detailed information, particularly for cost projections. Any individual or group submitting a project – other than ACCGov staff – should contact the appropriate ACCGov department for assistance and to let the department know of the planned submission. Departments may already be working on similar project submissions or may be aware of similar project requests that are being formulated by other groups or individuals.

The following are ACCGov department contacts who should be contacted prior to project submission:

- Airport-related projects – Athens-Ben Epps Airport (706-613-3420) – Mike Mathews, Director (mike.mathews@accgov.com)

- Bus-related projects – Transit Department (706-613-3432) – Vic Pope, Director (victor.pope@accgov.com)

- Greenways or Rail-to-Trails related projects – Leisure Services Department (706-613-3801) – Alex Bond, Assistant Director (www.accgov.com/parkplanning)

- Roads, streets, bridges, stormwater, sidewalks, and bicycle-related projects – Transportation & Public Works Department (706-613-3440) – Julia Johnson, Capital Programs Coordinator (publicworks@accgov.com)

Georgia law allows local communities to use TSPLOST proceeds for transportation-related purposes if approved by voters in a referendum. The first TSPLOST for Athens-Clarke County was a 1% sales tax approved by voters in November 2017. Collections began in April 2018 and ended in late 2022. TSPLOST 2023 collections started on October 1, 2022 and are projected to continue through December 2026.

The TSPLOST 2026 Advisory Committee is a group of 22 residents appointed by the Mayor and Commission. The committee is responsible for recommending a list of candidate projects for adoption by the Mayor and Commission. Athens-Clarke County residents will vote on May 19, 2026 on the program and the final list of projects approved by the Mayor and Commission.

If voters approve a TSPLOST 2026 program on May 19, 2026 TSPLOST sales tax collection will continue uninterrupted at the expiration of the current TSPLOST collections. The local sales tax rate of eight percent would not increase as a result of the TSPLOST program.

The TSPLOST website at www.accgov.com/tsplost2026 contains a link to the projection submission form, a calendar of upcoming meetings and deadlines related to both potential programs.

For more information about this process contact ACCGov Capital Projects Department at tsplost@accgov.com or call them at their provided number.

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