2009 SPLOST
Every 4 years citizens are asked to consider continuing the 1 cent sales tax known as the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST). It is up to the County Commissioners to call a referendum that would take place in November of this year for the purpose of continuing the sales tax. The SPLOST is Duluth’s primary source of funds for capital improvements such as road resurfacing, sidewalks, parks, public safety equipment to name a few. The City asked citizens through our HOA meetings, E-Mail, and Newsletter about serving on a SPLOST Committee to take a look at the priorities for SPLOST recommended by City staff and to also provide their own priorities to help better inform all citizens. The Committee made up of 13 citizens responded favorably to the city recommended priorities (listed below) and suggested that these priorities be listed in our news letter and web site so they could be reviewed by everyone. The second meeting of the SPLOST Committee was held May 22nd where they identified some other potential projects as well as agreed to present the proposed projects at a HOA meeting to be held June 19th. The following is a proposed list of priority categories along with some proposed projects in those categories.
Transportation |
|
| ROAD IMPROVEMENTS | ADDITIONAL FUNDING |
| Hospital Connector (Engineering Complete) | $ 500,000 |
| Ridgeway Extension (Engineering Complete) | $1,500,000 (Road Construction) |
| $ 500,000 (Right of Way) | |
| STORM WATER: | $ 200,000 |
| SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS: | |
| W. Lawrenceville/McClure Bridge Road | $ 727,424 |
| STREET RESURFACING: | |
| W. Lawrenceville/McClure Bridge | $1,250,000 (Grinding/Resurfacing) |
| Yearly Resurfacing (5 yrs.) | $1,000,000 |
| TOTAL TRANSPORTATION: | $5,677,424 |
Recreation |
|
| Green Space/Passive Recreation: | |
| 20 acres | $1,000,000 |
| Park Land: | |
| 35 acres (includes $910,000 for 10 A property near river) | $4,000,000 |
| Dog Park: (Rogers Bridge Park) | $ 100,000 |
| Depot Replacement: (WP Jones Park) | $ 500,000 |
| Renovation of old Methodist Church | $ 250,000 |
| Taylor Park Playground | $ 200,000 |
| TOTAL RECREATION: | $6,050,000 |
Public Parking Downtown |
|
| Downtown Parking (Library) | $1,510,000 (Property) |
Public Safety |
|
| Police Vehicles 5 Years | $1,000,000 |
| Police Radio Replacements | $ 450,000 |
| Police and Court Software | $ 265,000 |
| $1,715,000 | |
| TOTAL SPLOST | $14,952,424 |
If you see the following SPLOST Committee Members you may want to ask them about proposed SPLOST projects or make recommendations of your own: Jack Beecher, John Bell, Marion Greene, Susan Holland, Eric Holmes, Cindy McDonald, Kay Montgomery, Donny Phillips, Scott Rose, Marline Santiago-Cook, Diana Stillwagon, Jennifer Wewers, Hanya Whyte. A special thanks to these Committee members for volunteering to be a sounding board for proposed SPLOST priorities.