Voters to decide one-cent sales tax
Feb. 5
By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor

Jenkins County voters will have the opportunity in February to decide whether or not the present one-cent Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) should be re-imposed for an additional six years. During a called meeting Oct. 30, the Jenkins County Commissioners approved a resolution calling for a Special Election on the matter to be held Tuesday, Feb. 5, in conjunction with the Presidential Preference Primary.

The tax, if approved, is expected to raise approximately $6 million over the six-year period for capital improvement projects needed by the county and City of Millen.

Proposed projects by the county include $1 million for the construction of a new county jail and $3, 425,000 for public safety buildings and equipment, general governmental and landfill equipment, courthouse renovations, road and bridge improvements and industrial park projects.

The City of Millen is expected to receive $1, 575,000 for public works improvements, utility improvements, police and fire department equipment and administrative department capital projects.

The present SPLOST, approved in 2004, is expected to expire March 2008, almost a year earlier than anticipated, due to the fact that the $2.5 million approved collection amount will have been reached. However, the county plans to ask for a waiver to be able to continue the tax for three additional months so that there will be no lapse in SPLOST collection, pending voter approval in February.

The commissioners and city council have stressed that the proposal is not for an "additional" one-cent sales tax, but rather the "continuation" of the present one. Both governing bodies have indicated that SPLOST is a vital tool, affording them the opportunity to achieve necessary capital improvement projects without increasing ad valorem taxes.