Special sales tax on ballot would raise millions for Columbia County

A penny here and a penny there may not seem like much, but over time they can add up to something significant.

That’s why the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce is urging voters to vote Yes for the Special Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) when they go to the polls this fall. Voting yes would continue the one cent added to each sale, which has been in place since 1990.

SPLOST funds in the past have been used to improve or create roads, schools, libraries, parks and recreation facilities, public safety offices, and other countywide projects without raising additional taxes on citizens. Some of that additional revenue comes from visitors to the area, especially during Masters Week.

“Without SPLOST, future safety, recreation, and transportation projects will likely have to be paid for by increased property taxes,” Columbia County Chamber President & CEO, Russell Lahodny said. “SPLOST benefits the community by capitalizing on the influx of people that come to the region during the first part of April every year. We can, in turn, leverage that to grow and improve our fire departments and improve our quality of life through our parks and public facilities.”

A yes vote will extend the SPLOST from 2023 to 2028. The projected income from SPLOST over the next five years is $288 million.

For more information regarding SPLOST and its benefit to Columbia County, visit columbiacountychamber.com and click on the voter info tab housed on the home page.