An informational town hall held by Gilmer County commissioners on the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST) drew light attendance.
Gilmer County Chair Charlie Paris opened the meeting with an explanation of why he agreed to bring forth the TSPLOST during this year’s election.
Since he has been in office, he has received seven to eight calls a week about getting roads paved. He would explain the budget and the callers were polite.
He still receives the same amount of calls.
“They’re not nice anymore,” he said. “They all start out the same way, ‘I pay my taxes’.”
Gilmer County has 503 miles of road to maintain, according to Paris. He said much of these are dirt. His goal is to pave as much road as possible to make maintenance easier.
During the first TSPLOST, Paris said it would take 50 years to get all the roads paved without the TSPLOST and eight to nine years with the TSPLOST.
“I haven’t calculated that at this time,” he said.
Costs of paving roads has gone up, and the county still has to maintain and resurface roads which are already paved. He said his original estimate did not account for these factors.
He pointed out surrounding counties have TSPLOST measures on their ballots.
Paris said one reason he is in favor of a local TSPLOST is to allow the county to keep the sales tax money for roads and bridges in the county instead of being shared in a region.
If a regional TSPLOST is proposed and the rest of the region votes in favor despite Gilmer County voting against the initiative, the county would still be lumped into the region.
“I saw us as being a donor county,” he said.
If a local TSPLOST is approved, it would add a one cent sales tax in Gilmer County for five years. Projections run between $7 million to $8 million in revenue per year which would be generated by the sales tax.
Post Commissioner John Marshall pointed out the county raises $14 million in ad valorem taxes under the current millage rate. To raise $7 million to $8 million for paving through ad valorem taxes, the millage rate would have to be increased by at least 50 percent.
With a TSPLOST, the one cent sales tax is shared by everyone who purchases items in the county. Visitors will be able to participate in providing revenue to maintain county roads.
Two men spoke at the town hall to advocate for Ruby Ridge Drive to be paved.
Doug Rink, who was a candidate for post commissioner in the primary, spoke about the need for road improvements outside of paving such as widening current roads.
Kelly Maynard said if his road was paved it would increase the speed. He requested speed bumps if paving takes place.
Paris said TSPLOST money can be used for speed bumps. He said it was up to individual neighborhoods as to whether the county would add speed bumps.
A list of proposed roads to be paved with asphalt and another for roads to be paved with tar and chip were provided. (See graphic.)
The local TSPLOST measure will appear on the November ballot.
Gilmer County TSPLOST Tar & Chip Road List 2024
Abbot Top Rd.
Abbot Ct.
Acorn Ln.
Adventure Trail
Alpine Ct.
Alpine Farm Rd.
Apple Country Ln.
Azalea Dr.
Banks Rd.
Banner Circle
Bates Dr.
Bayou Court
Bennett Ridge
Bible Baptist Rd.
Blue Springs Rd.
Brawner Rd.
Bubba’s Mtn Rd.
Candler Way
Cantrell Rd.
Chancey Rd.
Chandler Way
Charlie Waters Rd.
Cherry Log Cem Rd.
Cornett Dr.
Cowboy Trail
Cripple Creek Dr.
Cripple Creek Ln.
Daniel Boone Rd.
Dogwood Rd.
Dusty Dixie Farm Rd.
E. Harris Branch Rd.
Ebenezer Rd.
Elford Rd.
Evergreen Dr.
Evergreen Trail
Falcon Circle
Felton Dr.
Fern Valley Rd.
Flat Creek Church Cem Rd.
Fowler Rd.
Gates Chapel Rd.
Gentry Dr.
Goose Island Rd.
Greenfield Rd.
Flat Creek School Rd.
Gunstock Creek Ln.
Hagin Circle
Hagin Rd.
Hagin Ln.
Halponder Rd.
Harold Pritchett Rd.
Harper Valley Rd.
Holt Brigham Dr.
Holt Rd.
Horseshoe Circle
Hudson Dr.
Hummingbird Ln.
Hummingbird Dr.
James Court
James Dr.
John Call Rd.
John Waters Rd.
Johnson Mill Rd.
Lakeview Rd.
Licklog Trail
Licklog Rd.
Maple Rest Ln.
Milt Priest Rd.
Moreland Rd.
Mt. Pisgah Dr.
N. Garrett Branch Rd.
New Hope Trail
New Liberty Rd.
New Liberty Trail
North Piney Spur
Nugget Ln.
Oak Ridge Ln.
Old Clear Creek Rd.
Old Federal Rd.
Old Fendley Rd.
Old Northcutt Rd.
Old Parke Place Rd.
Old Parker Trail
Old Pine Way
Old Pleasant Valley Dr.
Old Pleasant Valley Ln.
Old Ridge Rd.
Old Woodring Rd.
Osborne Rd.
Painter Rd.
Parker Trail
Peppermint Ln.
Pike Rd.
Pine Way
Piney Spur Rd.
Pison Ln.
Ponderosa Rd.
Quail Run Rd.
Quarles Ln.
Ray Miller Rd.
Red Bird Ln.
River Bend Rd.
Ruby Ridge Dr.
Sanford Ln.
Sanford Rd.
Scarlett Dr.
Scott Hollow Rd.
September Ln.
Seth Hyatt Rd.
Shakerag Rd.
Shamrock Farm Rd.
Shepard Mountain Rd.
Simmons Rd.
Soloman’s TRL
Sourwood Ln.
South Jones Mill Rd.
South Old Tails Creek Rd.
South Parks Rd.
South Piney Spur Rd.
Spring Creek Trail
Spring Dr.
Squirrel Ln.
Stanley Stover Rd.
Stegall Rd.
Stone Pile Gap Rd.
Stover Creek Cove
Sunset Ln.
Sutton Rd.
Teague Rd.
Teem Rd.
Tickanetley Ln.
Turtle Ridge Rd.
Tyler Rd.
Vanilla Ln.
W. Mountaintown Trail
W. Stover Creek Rd.
Water Wheel Way
Weeks Rd.
White Cliff Dr.
Whitepath Way
Wilderness Trail
Willard Mountain Rd.
Wimpy Rd.
Withrow Rd.
Gilmer County TSPLOST Asphalt Road List 2024
Aaron Rd.
Anderson Rd.
Back Pine Way
Ball Creek Rd. N.
Banjo Way
Barnes Mtn Rd.
Bates Rd.
Berean Church Rd.
Berean Circle
Bernhardt Rd.
Berry Hill Dr.
Berry Hill Rd.
Big Creek Rd.
Blackberry Mtn Rd.
Bull Gap Rd.
Bushy Head Rd.
Camp Branch Rd.
Cantown Rd.
Carolyn Dr.
Charlottes Web Dr.
Cherry Log Ave.
Cherry Log St.
Chopped Oaks Rd.
Clear Creek Ln.
Clear Creek Rd.
Colbert Mtn Rd.
Conasauga Rd.
Cougar Ln.
Country Hill Rd.
Country Hills Trace
Crabapple Ct.
Crabapple Ln.
Craigtown Rd.
Cripple Creek Rd.
Crooked Ct.
Dale Valley Circle
Dale Valley Ln.
Dales Spur Rd.
Dalrymple Circle
Deer Stand Dr.
Diamond Lure Rd.
Diamond Rd.
Double Head Gap Rd.
Dover Chapel Rd.
Dover Chapel Terrace
E. Mountaintown Trail
East New Hope Rd.
Fendley Rd.
Flag Pole Rd.
Flat Branch Rd.
Flat Branch Trail
Fleetwood Dr.
Forestry Hills Dr.
Fred Beasley Rd.
Garrett Branch Circle
Garrett Branch Rd.
Gates Chapel Rd.
Ginger Ln.
Heritage Way
Hidden Valley Trail
Holly Berry Dr.
Holly Berry Ct.
Hospital Circle
Joann Sisson Rd.
Knight Dr.
Laurel Ridge Dr.
Laurel Ridge Rd.
Laurel Trail
Leeches Rd.
Legion Rd.
Liberty Ln.
Little Rock Creek Rd.
Log Round Mtn Rd.
Log Round Mtn Trail
Lower Cartecay Rd.
Lower Tails Creek Rd.
Lowman Rd.
Lucius Rd.
Luke Quarles Rd.
Macedonia Rd.
Mack Long Rd.
Maxwell Rd.
McCollum Rd.
Mission Hill Rd.
Misty Valley Ln.
Monticello Rd.
Moon Crest Ridge
Mt. Zion Rd.
New Hope Rd.
New Liberty Rd.
Northcutt Rd.
Old Bennett Rd.
Old Bucktown Rd.
Old Faith Church Rd.
Old Flat Branch Rd.
Old Flat Creek Church Rd.
Old Flat Creek Rd.
Old Roundtop Rd.
Old Twiggs Rd.
Old Tails Creek Rd.
Orchard Rd.
Overhanging Rock
Owltown Farm Dr.
Owltown Rd.
Parker Rd.
Parks Dr.
Parks Rd.
Parksbrooke Rd.
Parris Rd.
Pen Dr.
Pink Pig Ln.
Pioneer Ct.
Pleasant Gap Cem. Rd.
Pleasant Grove Rd.
Pleasant Hill Rd.
Plum Nelly
Pole Coffee Circle
Ponderosa Rd.
Rackley Rd.
Raven Cliff Rd.
Richards Rd.
River Hill Rd.
Riverbend Circle
Rock Creek Connector
Rock Creek Ct.
Rock Creek Ln.
Rock Creek Rd.
Rodgers Creek Rd.
Rose Petal Ln.
Roy Rd.
Sally Circle
Shady Grove Rd.
Shepard Rd.
Simmons Dr.
Soccer Field Rd.
S. Northcutt Rd.
Southern Pines Dr.
Southern Rd.
Stillwell Rd.
Tabor Rd.
Tails Creek Church Rd.
Teague Rd.
Thornwood Ct.
Tower Rd.
Valley Dr.
Village Park Dr.
Village Park Ln.
Walnut Ridge Ln.
Walnut Ridge Terrace
Warlick Circle
Warlick Dr.
Weeks Rd.
West Teague Rd.
Whisper Wind Ln.
White Oak Dr.
White Stone Rd. N.
Wildcat Creek Rd.
Wildcat Creek Dr.
Woodridge Dr.
Zion Hill Rd.