By Eric Curl
Jan. 14, 2024 – The latest special purpose local option sales tax, SPLOST, has raised almost $335 million since being implemented in October 2020, averaging out to be about $9 million a month, according to records provided by the city. At that rate, the 1-percent tax is set to raise an additional $289 million, for a total of about $624 million, by the time the tax period ends at the end of 2025.
That is good news for the city, which is set to receive the next $10 million if revenue exceeds $420 million, according to a provision in the referendum. The additional revenue is designated to be split up as follows:
- Grayson Stadium improvements: $3 million
- Guy Minick Park Improvements (Phase 3): $2 million
- Fiber Optic Cable Replacement: $3 million
- City Hall Historic Renovation (add to complete): $2 million
The referendum was approved by voters in November 2019 and collections began throughout Chatham County and its municipalities in October 2020. As of November 2023, the city spent more than $30 million and almost $88 million remained of the revenue Chatham distributed to the city by that time, according to city records.
Last week the Savannah City Council approved a $40 million contract for Casey Canal drainage improvements, a project being funded by SPLOST revenue, along with water and sewer enterprise funds. SPLOST funding is also being used to make improvements to Grayson Stadium that include refurbished and new seating.
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