Planning for rec. center and animal shelter will begin
Gilmer voters approved a renewed Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax for the county, now attention turns to the planning.
The SPLOST will continue to add a one cent sales tax to the majority of purchases in Gilmer County once the current one ends, some time in 2026. The net effect is there will be no change in the sales tax.
In 2026 the SPLOST is projected to bring in $8.2 million in revenue for the county, according to Gilmer County Finance Officer Sandi Holden.
Bond payments are the primary purpose of the SPLOST. A portion is used each year to pay bonds issued in 2007 for construction of several buildings in the county, including the courthouse, and equipment updates.
Two main projects, a recreation center and a major renovation of the animal shelter, are a major focus of extra funds provided by the SPLOST.
Gilmer County commissioners have discussed issuing bonds to pay for the construction of the projects, but have committed to any debt being paid off before the renewed SPLOST expires.
“Nothing is going to happen until the SPLOST actually begins,” said Gilmer Chair Charlie Paris. “And we still have some time before then.”
Still, he said they don’t want to wait two or three years to start the projects.
Planning can begin for the recreation center, Paris said. Commissioners have set aside close to $3 million over the past three years. This can be used for planning so when the renewed SPLOST goes into effect bonds can be issued and construction can begin soon after.
“We’ll probably go down that path pretty quickly,” he said.”We can easily use that year with coming up with plans and bids before we get into the big money issues.”
As for the animal shelter, Paris said the county has $1.5 million in donations waiting in a separate account to pay for a portion of the construction, but more is needed.
“We are at capacity,” Paris said.
Calls come in daily to pick up stray animals, but the shelter is currently full. Volunteers have stepped up to help, but there is a limit of what they can do to help.
Paris said he has heard from a contingent of people who think these projects are unwarranted.
“People need to get over this idea that ‘I don’t use it, so it is useless,’” he said.
Different groups of citizens in Gilmer County have different needs and the county is working to balance them, Paris said.
A survey was performed by a recreation group the county contracted with to lay out a plan for the county’s needs. Favorable response for a recreation facility was high.
“We’re trying to be a little scientific about it,” he said.