This Tuesday, a continuation of SPLOST is on the ballot. That means the loftiest ambitions for the future of our County are on the ballot. The realization of Henry as a safe, livable, traversable place to call home is up for a vote.

I hope that you will join me in saying yes to this important investment in our shared future. With that in mind, I wanted to share the reasons that I am in favor.

What is a SPLOST?
This is always the first question you have to answer on this topic. SPLOST stands for a Special Local Option Sales Tax. It’s a clunky term for a one-penny sales tax that folks get to opt into – or not -- via a ballot referendum.

This particular version, SPLOST VI, would run for six years and generate a projected $470 million. It’s money that would be invested in transportation and capital projects across both unincorporated Henry as well as the cities of Hampton, Locust Grove, McDonough, and Stockbridge. Importantly, this would not be a new tax, but rather the continuation of one we’ve been paying that is set to expire.

How Does SPLOST Benefit You?
If residents are to approve a referendum, they must trust that they’ll get a good return for their investment. Fortunately, your government has developed a record you can believe in through both its preceding SPLOST and TSPLOST efforts.

If you head to the county website, there’s real time data on the project lists linked to these ongoing programs. And I’m proud to stand by the numbers.

Looking big picture, 12 of the 16 fire stations in Henry County were paid for using SPLOST dollars, not to mention numerous ambulances and fire trucks. All five of our recreation centers, our five libraries, and our four senior centers were covered through SPLOST as well.

That’s not to mention the millions we’ve spent on improvements to local parks or our transportation infrastructure. SPLOST has funded 58 intersection improvements, paved 68 dirt roads, built 26 bridges, and resurfaced over 300 miles of existing roads.

So when we say SPLOST is working, or that it’s important, those aren’t empty words. We can point to real, tangible things that have had a transformative impact on our community.

It’s also worth underscoring that of all the ways we can generate tax revenue for these types of projects, SPLOSTs are lighter on your wallet.

That’s because, unlike for example a property tax, a large portion of sales taxes are paid by non-residents. Think about all the folks travelling down I-75, making stops at Henry businesses along the way. When they do that, they are helping foot the bill for our prosperous future.

Why is a SPLOST VI Necessary?
Well, the easiest answer is, Henry County has more to do. Our citizens deserve a government that will continue to improve the quality of life and services for our residents. And that’s what we are constantly endeavoring to achieve.

Your safety comes first. So we will invest nearly $40 million from SPLOST VI into a new E911 facility, Fire Rescue buildings, and more.

The demands of local seniors are growing. That’s why we’re putting $18.5 million towards a new Hidden Valley Senior Center.

Local families and children want the best quality of life, and we’re going to deliver. That’s why over $20 million is going towards major parks and recreation improvements such as field upgrades, new playgrounds, pickleball court installations, and much more.

And we must continue building a 21st century transportation infrastructure. Well through this SPLOST, we’ll allocate over $43 million on transportation improvements in each of the County’s five commission districts. That’s money for wider roads, resurfaced streets, new sidewalks, bridge improvements, and intersection upgrades in and around communities all across Henry County.

You take this all together, and the choice for me is clear. Yes to SPLOST VI. I hope you agree and will cast your ballot for this critical investment on Election Day.