Leaders to hold hearing on SPLOST March 4

Have an opinion on how county sales tax money should be spent over the next few years?

Well, your chance to speak up is now. The county commissioners will hold a public hearing at 6:30 p.m., March 4, to receive input from citizens on how sales tax dollars should be used if voters approve the renewal of the one-cent special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST). The BOC has discussed holding a referendum in November, but the group has not voted on the matter.

County voters last approved SPLOST in 2008 and that tax is set to expire in 2014 if it is not approved. Madison County commission chairman Anthony Dove said a large chunk of revenue in the upcoming SPLOST will need to be spent on local road improvements. In 2008, the BOC approved just under $4 million for roads, which commissioners have acknowledged was not enough. Roughly $8 million was approved for roads in 2003.