Catoosa County to hold SPLOST special election

CATOOSA COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) — Catoosa County will be holding a special election to decide on the continuation of the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST).

The SPLOST is a one penny-per-dollar sales tax, which, if approved, would continue through 2030.

The special election will take place on Tuesday, March 12.

Back in December, the board of commissioners adopted resolutions to hold the special election.

Citizens will vote to continue or discontinue the 1% SPLOST, with the cities of Ringgold and Fort Oglethorpe to use and distribute those funds.

The county said the SPLOST will collect up to $96 million over six years if approved. The funds will go toward public safety, infrastructure, equipment and building needs.

About 80% of the funds will go to the county, 14% to Fort Oglethorpe and 5% to Ringgold.

Voters approved SPLOST funds in 2019, which will continue to be collected until June 30, 2024.

If approved, the 2024 SPLOST collection will begin on July 1.

“Since the SPLOST was first approved by voters in 1994, the funds have paid for so many things our neighbors depend on everyday including roads, sanitary sewers, public buildings, parks, police, and fire protection,” said Catoosa County Chairman Larry C. Black. “By being a border community along a busy U.S. Interstate highway, a significant portion of collected SPLOST funds come from purchases made by people living outside of Catoosa County.”