Savannah’s SPLOST: $27 million left | savannahnow.com

As Savannah officials lobby for residents’ support for extending the existing 1 percent special sales tax another six years, the city still has about $27 million left to spend from past tax referendums.

That amount does not include funding from the current tax period, which is expected to generate about $121 million for city projects before expiring next fall.

Since the first special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) went into effect in 1985, the city has spent about $232 million on dozens of projects through 2012, according to a list of project budgets provided by the city.

The first two tax periods from 1985 through 1998 raised revenue for mostly street and sidewalk projects, and spending totaled $16 million. Spending exceeded $100 million when drainage, property acquisition and building projects were added to the third referendum, which extended the tax through 2003.

City projects funded by the tax since its inception include the $21.1 million Ellis Square restoration and underground parking garage, the $21.5 million Casey South drainage project, $426,857 for accessible sidewalk ramps and $2.7 million for the new Thomas Square fire station.

Current SPLOST projects the city has on tap include a $20 million cultural arts center, police and fire department training facilities and $37 million in drainage improvements meant to address flooding in downtown’s eastside, streets around Baldwin Circle north of Victory Drive and the Habersham Village shopping center area.

Remaining funds

Some of the city projects from the third and fourth SPLOST periods, from 1998 through 2008, have not been completed and still have funds budgeted.

This is true of some projects that were opened to the public years ago. The largest such project is the Ellis Square parking garage. Despite opening in 2008, the city still has more than $4 million budgeted for the facility.

via Savannah’s SPLOST: $27 million left | savannahnow.com.