The Liberty County Chamber of Commerce has scheduled more Special Purpose Local Options Sales Tax town hall meetings aimed at convincing voters to pass the special tax at the upcoming Nov. 8 general election.
County voters rejected renewing the 1 percent sales tax in November 2014. The Chamber-led campaign promoting SPLOST was launched starting with a kickoff town hall meeting in August. Since then there have been meetings in Flemington, Midway and Riceboro, and more are scheduled, including one at the Dorchester Civic Center at 6 p.m. Sept. 19.
Leah Poole, Chamber CEO, said people in the community are finding the meetings helpful and local leaders have been able to answer questions and clear up misconceptions.
"In Riceboro, (Monday night) we had a couple of ladies who took a handful of materials to take with them because they got their questions answered," Poole said. "They felt good about what they heard and they were confident that they could educate their neighbors."
The public is encouraged to attend and ask questions about how SPLOST will be used, completed projects and voice their concerns.
At previous meetings, residents asked questions about debt service on the MidCoast Regional Airport at Wright Army Airfield and the Justice Center, tourism, the completion of the animal control facility, park renovations and the proposed Liberty Regional Medical Center East End Clinic at Tradeport East.
If passed, SPLOST is projected to raise an estimated $54 million over six years. The SPLOST project list includes paying some of the debt on the Justice Center and airport, road improvements, projects in the different municipalities, purchase of public safety equipment and vehicles, a multi-purpose governmental facility for Midway and improvements to the county’s 911 safety system and animal shelter.
SPLOST Town Hall meetings
Walthourville Community Meeting, Sept 22 6 p.m. at Good Shepard Church
Facebook SPLOST Town hall, Sept 27 and Oct 25 5 p.m.
Gum Branch Community Meeting has been rescheduled for Oct 6 6 p.m. at Gum Branch Fire Department.
The Hinesville town hall meeting will be announced.