Hall officials look at a new SPLOST

GAINESVILLE - City officials from across Hall County and county commissioners met for dinner and a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax update Monday night and no one objected to planning for SPLOST (7) with SPLOST (6) expiring next year.

Oakwood Mayor Lamar Scroggs said city and county administrators could meet and come up with a plan.

"They know what each city agency needs, they know what the county needs," Scroggs said.

Hall County Administrator Randy Knighton conducted the meeting with Gainesville City Manager Kip Padget and followed up on Scroggs' suggestion.

"We'll begin to put together a framework of how the preparation of SPLOST (7) could take place and provide that back to them within 30 days," Knighton said.

Knighton added public input would be an important part of planning for the new special purpose sales tax. Hall County Commission Chairman Dick Mecum said he sees a new Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax as a way for the county to prepare for huge growth in the next twenty to thirty years. Mecum was among the city and county officials attending the SPLOST update in the commission meeting room.

"We're looking mainly at infrastructure," Mecum said. "That's water, sewer and roads. Those are going to be our primary focus in this particular SPLOST."

Mecum also said a first time citizens SPLOST oversight committee would be of vital importance.