Mayors not happy with SPLOST proceeds split

CFO Rose Kisaalita told the Barrow Journal that the county has to get started now in order to meet deadlines in the months-long process for getting a SPLOST renewal on the ballot.

She said a March 2011 referendum is planned, because county officials want to have enough time to put the issue before voters twice before the current SPLOST funding cycle ends at the end of June 2012.

“We want to go in March 2011, because if voters do not approve it, we have to wait 12 months (for the second vote),” Kisaalita said.

ROCKY ROAD AHEAD
The absence of the mayors at the kickoff meeting likely will be only the first bump in the road leading to the 2012 SPLOST vote – or votes.

The mayors are unhappy about the disbursements the municipalities have received to date in the 2005 SPLOST cycle.

And there is a real question as to whether voters will renew the tax in the current economic and political climates.

Yearwood was not in office when the county struck its 2005 deal with the mayors and the voters. But for more than a year he has been sweating the possible failure of the 2012 SPLOST renewal.

For more on this story, see the July 7 edition of the Barrow Journal or click here to read the full story online when you sign up for a free trial of our new e-edition. Free trial offer ends July 13.