Citizens give input on SPLOST VII referendum

FLOWERY BRANCH, GA - Citizens gathered at the Spout Springs Library for the first of three public meetings about a proposed Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax.<br /> <br /> Hall County Administrator Randy Knighton said that a team of economists at Georgia Tech determined that the proposed referendum would likely bring in around $158 million.<br /> <br /> The original projection--before the economic downturn--was estimated at $240 million, and a second projection done prior to the one at Georgia Tech estimated it at around $152 million.<br /> <br /> Hall County Library Board Chairman Andy Henderson spoke to the crowd, encouraging them to write the word "library" on their suggestion cards.<br /> <br /> "We're the only entity in the county that still has furloughs," Henderson said. "And we serve more people than any parks and recreation."<br /> <br /> He said that 85% of the library's funding comes from the county, and SPLOST money would help them "become whole again."<br /> <br /> The next meeting will be June 17 at the Chattahoochee Center in Clermont, and the final meeting will be on June 19 in Gainesville.<br /> <br /> If citizens can't make it to the meeting, they can submit their comments on the Hall County website.<br /> <br /> That section will be available throughout the public meeting process, according to Knighton.