SPLOST Update

Aug. 25, 2025 – Initially implemented in 1985, the 1-percent sales tax has been reauthorized by voters seven times since then to fund capital projects throughout the county and its municipalities. The current SPLOST 7 is set to expire on Sept. 30, 2026, and the new 6-year tax would begin on Oct. 1, 2026, if approved by voters during the Nov. 4 referendum.

As of March 31, $497.2 million in SPLOST 7 revenue had been collected, which amounted to more than $202 million more than the projected amount, according to a Chatham County staff report in May.

After collections exceeded $440 million, the county began distributing the funds to municipalities based on their 2020 Census populations, per the terms of the SPLOST agreement.

Chatham County Commissioners approved the county project list for SPLOST 8 on June 27. Commissioners then approved SPLOST 8 agreements with Savannah and the other municipalities on July 18, listing projects and shares of the $700 million in funds the tax is expected to raise.

The county’s list of $282 million in SPLOST 8 projects includes $40 million for a juvenile court facility, $25 million for the elimination of railroad crossings and $6 million for an Airways Avenue/I-95 Interchange project, along with $94 million in other road, street, sidewalk and trail projects.

The city of Savannah is to receive $268 million out of the $700 million the tax is expected to raise over 6-year period. The revenue would go towards the redevelopment of the Civic Center/Johnny Mercer Theater site, Benton Boulevard and Highlands Boulevard widening and related road improvements, the MLK flyover removal, the city hall restoration, along with other street, sidewalk, drainage and recreation improvements.

Meanwhile, the county has yet to include any SPLOST 8 funding for CAT, despite interim Executive Director Stephanie Cutter’s request for funding she said is crucial to fund vehicle replacements for the transit service, as previously reported.

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