Gordon County is no stranger to the special-project, local-option sales tax (SPLOST), however, it is a newer concept to the county than in most parts of the state.

The first SPLOST was passed in Gordon County in Oct. 1989 and collections began on Jan. 1990 through Dec. 1993. An intergovernmental agreement allows SPLOST money to be distributed, based on population, to the five municipalities in Gordon County.

The original SPLOST law was passed by the Georiga General Assembly in 1985. SPLOST is, by definition, an optional one percent sales tax which can be used to fund capital outlay projects proposed by county governments or participating municipal (city) governments, according to a history compiled by Randy Dowling, county administrator.

According to the history, 65.2 percent of citizens who voted in that election, voted to pass the first SPLOST project collections. This four-year SPLOST collection period funded the construction of a sanitary landfill in Gordon County.

However, in September 1993, citizens of Gordon County voted against continuing the SPLOST collections for an-other five-year period. The $27.5 million that the SPLOST would have raised, would have funded roads, a civic center and a fire station, Dowling stated.

Again in November 1994, Gordon County voters declined funding the $28 million SPLOST project list which included nine county roads, fire department headquarters, 10 fire department substations, renovation of county administrative buildings for Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance, public works facility and fueling sta-tion, jail improvements, recreational facilities, cultural facility and equipment. Some of the projects for the cities in Gordon County included water and sewer improvements and street improvements, city halls, libraries, street and sewer improvements and civic centers.

According to the report, 58.3 percent of Gordon County voters voted against the SPLOST.

In June 1997, Gordon County voters rejected, for the third time, the SPLOST project list which would have raised $17 million over three years or $22.5 million over four years for road improvements. Sixty-two percent of voters declined the additional tax.

From 1997-2000 the county commissioners raised the millage rate by two mills, according to the report, to generate the funding for county improvements.

In Nov. 2000, the county again asked the voters, during a referendum, to approve a SPLOST project list spanning five years and totaling $35 million. The referendum passed with 54 percent of voters approving the change. This SPLOST spanned from April 2001 until March 2006.

The county and its municipalities are currently collecting funds from a $51,339,204 SPLOST passed in November 2005. Collections will end in 2012.