Bowersville SPLOST Plans Change

Hart County voters will have approve a new plan by the town of Bowersville regarding how they spend their share of the current special purpose local option sales tax.

At their regular meeting last week, the Hart County Board of Commissioners heard from county attorney Walter Gordon.

Gordon said Bowersville city fathers had planned to use their $70,000 share of the next special purpose local option sales tax to create a walking and biking trail.

“After they got into the planning of it, they concluded it was not feasible,” Gordon said. “The Bowersville town council then voted in August to re-allocate the funds and spend $55,000 on water system improvements and $15,000 on planning the walking and biking trail.”

Georgia law requires all uses for SPLOST revenue be listed and approved by the Department of Justice before being approved by voters in a special referendum.

Voters had approved Bowersville original plan when they passed the SPLOST in November 2010.  Gordon said because of the town council’s decision, voters will have decide whether to approve the change in November.

“Because that question appeared on the ballot in November 2010 as a part of the overall SPLOST referendum, which the people approved, the only method of changing that allocation is with a countywide vote,” Gordon said. “That vote will take place in November of this year as a part of a special election.”

Gordon said he has received approval from the Justice Department to include the amended SPLOST on the November ballot.