May 30, 2006
Cairo- A new 12 million dollar, six year sales tax referendum is being crafted in Grady County. Cairo, Whigham, and Grady County are working together to pay for projects that range from library and road improvements to a new aquatic center.
Grady County's current special purpose local option sales tax won't expire until the spring of 2008, but already the County is planning for the future.
"We have to come to an agreement on exactly what the splits are on the one percent sales tax continuation," said Rusty Moye, Grady County Administrator.
In the 12 million dollar proposal, the Roddenbery Library would get $120,000 for air conditioning and roof improvements. Grady General Hospital would be given 1.5 million for improvements including an MRI lab and the community would get a new aquatic Center.
"The aquatic center that's included in this SPLOST right now is included at $900,000 and that would build a new competition swimming pool at Barber Park," said Moye.
The largest piece of the 12 million dollar pie would go toward street and sidewalk improvements in both Cairo and Grady County.
"Streets and sidewalks, resurfacing those streets, storm water drainage issues those are some priorities that the city wants to put on the SPLOST," said Chris Addleton, Cairo City Manager.
"We need to repave a bunch of our paved roads and also it let us take a look at paving some additional dirt roads," said Moye.
Ultimately it will be up to the taxpayers next spring. The County has until August to reach the intergovernmental agreement that would place the referendum on the March 2007 ballot. The 2003 SPLOST was only a five year tax.
An intergovernmental agreement between Grady County, Cairo, and Whigham would allow the new tax to span six years.
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