The Hall County Board of Commissioners Thursday night tabled a vote on a new transportation special purpose local option sales tax slated for the ballot this November.
In April, local officials began the process of detailing a potential TSPLOST initiative they hoped would be added to the ballot during this next voting cycle. Now, after receiving agreements from most of the municipalities within Hall County, the commissioners voted to table the initiative, which aims to be an issue voters will tackle later this year.
If the commission votes in approval, the TSPLOST will run its course through the Board of Elections, who must issue a formal “call for the referendum,” according to Hall County staff.
Several intergovernmental agreements have been brokered as part of the TSPLOST initiative, with the focus being solely on transportation improvements.
The vote on the resolution approving the TSPLOST for the ballot was placed on hold since Buford and Rest Haven have not signed intergovernmental agreements with the county yet, Hall County Administrator Zach Propes said Thursday.
Hall County officials have determined they will take on a general obligation debt, or a debt that will be repaid via the TSPLOST, in the amount of $130 million in order to fund various projects prior to the completion or obtaining of the actual TSPLOST funds.
Additionally, the Town of Braselton plans to take on $3.5 million in general obligation debt, the City of Flowery Branch will take on $5 million, the City of Gainesville will take on $40 million and the City of Oakwood will take on $1 million in general obligation debt, according to the submitted resolution.
The net proceeds the county is aiming to gather total approximately $325 million. The maximum time the tax is allowed to be imposed is five calendar years. Should the issue be added to the ballot and passed by voters in November, the tax would take effect on April 1, 2024.
This TSPLOST initiative is fully geared towards transportation projects in the county and aims to add a 1% tax on all sales within the Hall County area.
Some of the big-ticket items included as potential transportation improvements involve using $40 million to complete Phase 2 of the Spout Springs Road widening project and using $58 million to begin Phase 1 of the McEver Road widening project.
Braselton hopes to use $2.3 million for the construction of roads, bridges, sidewalks, multi-use paths, intersection improvements and traffic safety enhancements on Highway 211 and 347, Thompson Mill Road, Spout Springs Road and Dunbar Road.
Other cities are aiming to complete similar improvements, including upgrades in Clermont, Flowery Branch, Buford, Gainesville, Gillsville, Lula, Oakwood and Rest Haven.
Should everything go according to the county’s plan and final approval is given by the Board of Elections, the issue will be put to vote on the ballot on November 7.
The Hall County Board of Commissioners will reconvene on July 27 to vote on the matter, so long as agreements from Buford and Rest Haven have been reached.
