Friday, September 7, 2001
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Friday, September 7, 2001 |
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Coweta official starts SPLOST push By JOHN
THOMPSON
Coweta County Administrator Theron Gay and Public Information Officer Tom Corker brought their travelling show about the benefits of the special purpose local option sales tax to the Senoia Senior Center Wednesday. County residents will vote on an extension of the county's one-cent tax Sept.18 and Gay is "speaking to any group that will have us" in order to explain how the tax benefits residents. Gay noted the tax is not new it's been in effect since 1987. Since then, county residents have seen new fire stations built, recreational areas completed and an expansion of the county water system. Commissioner Vernon "Mutt" Hunter attended the presentation and told Senoia's seniors that the county could operate without the extension of the tax, but the tax was good for the citizens' lifestyles. "We wouldn't have this facility (Senoia Senior Center) without the SPLOST," he said. Gay also said that an estimated 30 percent of the sales tax by out of county residents who come to the area to dine and shop. "I know people from Meriwether County and Thomaston who come here all the time," he said. Other projects the county has completed with previous sales tax money include roads and bridges throughout the county and an expansion of the solid waste disposal facility. If the tax is extended this year, the county is looking at spending nearly $35 million for a new judicial center that will house all the county's judicial functions under one roof, instead of spread through various county buildings. The SPLOST extension also provides money to municipalities and the city of Senoia is looking to spend its share of funds on a museum project, along with improving roads.
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