CAIRO — Grady County officials met with representatives from the cities of Cairo and Whigham on Tuesday to discuss their respective project lists for and negotiate the contents of the 2020 special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST).

With the existing 2014 SPLOST resolution set to expire March 31 of next year, County Administrator Buddy Johnson said the time has come for the county and its municipalities to negotiate the contents of the 2020 version.

In attendance at Tuesday’ meeting at the Grady County Courthouse for the negotiations were Johnson, county clerk John White, county commission Chair LaFaye Copeland, Cairo City Manager Chris Addleton and Whigham Mayor George Trulock.

Addleton suggested the SPLOST resolution utilize similar language as the 2014 version by allocating the funds in proportion to population density according to the most recent U.S. Census in 2010, rather than future projections.

By using this metric, the county would receive 59.7 percent of the funds, Cairo 38.4 percent and Whigham 1.9 percent in the resolution.

Once approved by voters, all SPLOST projects will have equal priority and each governing authority will receive their allocations of funds on a monthly basis in accordance with their population percentages.

Johnson noted that while a referendum must be held in order for the new six-year SPLOST to go into effect, it does not represent a new tax for residents.

“We’re not adding another cent to their tax, we’re just continuing the one-cent tax that they have already paid for the last six years,” he said.

With an estimated SPLOST revenue of $18 million, the county would receive approximately $10.7 million, Cairo $6.9 million and Whigham $342,000.

Johnson said the county was planning on allocating between $6-7 million to repay previously incurred debt stemming from other SPLOST projects. 

According to state law, local governments can use loans from the state to advance SPLOST projects and repay them at a later date with SPLOST revenue.

Upgrading and replacing public safety equipment is also on the county’s project list, with approximately $1.5 million set aside for the purpose.

The remainder of the county’s SPLOST funds will be used on capital improvements such as roads, bridges and construction equipment.

On Monday the Cairo City Council members discussed their proposed project list for the 2020 SPLOST, which will include $3 million for water capital improvements.

Officials in Cairo have prioritized water capital improvements in their SPLOST project proposal, with a suggested $2 million for drinking water and $1 million for waste water.

State law allows capital outlay projects supporting enterprise operations such as water or sewer system improvements to be funded using SPLOST revenues.

Also on Cairo’s project list is $1.8 million for payment of previously incurred debt from other SPLOST projects.

Other items on the Cairo proposal include $900,000 for building and park improvements, $500,000 for public safety equipment, $400,00 for public works equipment and $300,000 for drainage and storm water improvements.

The inter-governmental agreement will be sent for ratification before the county board of commissioners on May 7, the Cairo City Council on May 13 and the City of Whigham on May 14.

Once ratified, the resolution will then be submitted to the county probate court, likely before the end of May, to be placed on the ballot in the November 2019 election.