Walker County Attorney Instructs Cities On SPLOST Funds; Vote On Tax For Capital Projects Is Nov. 6 – 07/30/2013 – Chattanoogan.com

Walker County Attorney Don Oliver conducted a meeting in LaFayette, Ga., on Monday night for the county’s municipalities on how to request appropriations from SPLOST funds. Representatives from four of the cities, Lookout Mountain, LaFayette, Rossville and Chickamauga, were at the meeting at the officer of Sole Commissioner Bebe Heiskell. Fort Oglethorpe, with only around 30 homes in the county, had no representation.

Special purpose local option tax (SPLOST) funding is restricted to capital projects, paying for items such as roads, bridges, patrol cars, and building renovations and cannot be used for operating expenses such as salaries or utilities. Since 1987, money has been derived from a one percent county tax that is added to the four percent state sales tax. This levy must be approved by voters in the county every six years or the tax will automatically expire. The only other source of revenue for capital improvements is with property taxes, said Mr. Oliver.

The meeting Monday fulfilled the state law that requires the county to hold a meeting with the cities that are involved 30 days prior to a vote. The referendum in Walker County will be held Nov. 5. Commissioner Heiskell is urging that the measure be approved by voters.

via Walker County Attorney Instructs Cities On SPLOST Funds; Vote On Tax For Capital Projects Is Nov. 6 – 07/30/2013 – Chattanoogan.com.