Chattooga County's municipalities and the county commissioner are making plans for the upcoming Special Local Options Sales Tax (SPLOST) vote that will be coming up in March.  Each municipality and the county must present a list of what they plan to use the extra one-cent sales tax for.  

Commissioner Jason Winters told AM 1180 that the county needs the funds for roads and bridges.  The cost of maintaining roads and bridges is one of the most expensive endeavors county governments face according to the commissioner.  

Also the commissioner is ear-marking a little less than $100,000 for the Chattooga County Water District.  Winters said that as the county's water system grows and takes on more customers the need for supplemental funds from SPLOST will be less.  If the SPLOST is approved by Chattooga County voters, the county's water system would see a little more than $50,000 less than it has seen in the past from SPLOST dollars.   

The commissioner told AM 1180 that county SPLOST funds would also be used for improvements and needed upgrades to Chattooga County's historic courthouse.  The commissioner is planning to bring the building which was built in 1909 up to date if the SPLOST is approved.

The Town of Lyerly will be meeting in a special called meeting tomorrow (Tuesday) evening to pass a resolution concerning the 2013 SPLOST.

Because of legislation passed last year, SPLOST votes – which are usually held in July – can only come before voters in either March or November this year.  The plan is to present the issue on a ballot in March in Chattooga County.