Macon voters set to decide whether to approve this tax. How would it be used?

Macon voters are set to decide whether or not to extend the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax on Tuesday.

SPLOST is an optional penny-per-dollar sales tax that goes towards funding projects approved by the county government. The Macon-Bibb County Board of Commissioners already signaled its support for SPLOST in December by voting to hold a referendum to renew it.

The current SPLOST — which is set to be capped in June unless it is renewed — began in 2018, according to a news release from Macon-Bibb County. If approved, the new SPLOST would go into effect on Oct. 1.

The most recent round of SPLOST generated $280 million for the county and was largely paid by out-of-towners who make stops in Macon to shop and eat, commissioners said during the December meeting in which SPLOST was approved.

According to the approved resolution, SPLOST would collect money until the Macon-Bibb County Tax Commissioner’s Office finds it has raised the approved amount of $450 million for the county.

But how will that money be used?

The funds previously raised by SPLOST have gone to a variety of local projects, including road repairs, upgrades to public parks and constructing a new training facility complex for the fire department.

Michael McNeill, chief assistant county attorney in the Macon-Bibb County Attorney’s Office, said that while the county is not legally required to list specific projects in the referendum, SPLOST money must be used “exclusively for the purpose or purposes specified in the resolution or ordinance calling for imposition of the tax.”

The resolution approved in December 2024 said that, if approved, among the possible projects this new SPLOST could go towards are street improvement projects to make roads safer and add lighting, sidewalks and bike paths; efforts to improve the Middle Georgia Regional Airport to generate jobs and encourage economic growth; and improvements to county buildings including a proposal to demolish the Macon Coliseum for an improved venue.

Other possible projects accounted for in the resolution are a new jail, new solid waste facilities and water and sewer improvements.

This story was originally published March 17, 2025 at 10:34 AM.