Community Meetings, Website and Other Education Opportunities to be Made Available

In advance of the Nov. 5, 2024, referendum for the proposed continuation of the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) program, Forsyth County is preparing to host a series of community open house meetings as well as provide additional education information pertaining to the penny sales tax.

SPLOST is a one percent voter-approved sales and use tax in Forsyth County for a specified time (up to six years), raising an estimated amount of revenue for designated programs and/or capital projects. The sales tax has been in place in Forsyth County since 1987, when it was first approved by Forsyth County voters. Seven referendums have since been voter-approved to continue the program. The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners is currently discussing plans to schedule a ninth SPLOST referendum, known as SPLOST IX, to be voted on in 2024.

“The penny sales tax in our County is a crucial funding source for the County’s capital projects such as transportation improvements, public safety needs, parks and recreation and other key areas for our community’s continued success,” said Forsyth County Manager David McKee. “Being able to utilize SPLOST has been beneficial in maintaining residential property taxes and brings in dollars from non-county residents doing commerce in the County.”

A website dedicated to SPLOST IX is now available on the County’s website at forsythco.com/splost and will be updated with SPLOST related education materials and media leading up to the referendum vote on Nov. 5.

In addition to the education program (which is set to include videos, social media messaging, surveys, roadside signage, proposed project overviews and more), the County will also host a series of public information open house meetings at various locations throughout the County for residents and stakeholders to meet with County officials. A total of ten meetings will be held at various locations beginning in late July. Each of the County’s five commissioners will host two public input sessions and details, dates and times of those meetings will be provided.

No formal presentation will be made, and residents are encouraged to drop in at any time during the meeting hours. While the meetings will be hosted by each district commissioner, citizens are welcome to attend the meeting most convenient for them. The same information will be available at all meetings.

“County leadership, staff and our district commissioners will be available to anyone wishing to learn more about the proposed SPLOST continuation, projects that would be funded by the sales tax and how SPLOST has impacted County funding options for the past three decades,” said McKee.

What have previous SPLOST programs funded?

Past SPLOST programs have provided funding for a number of important infrastructure projects that otherwise may not have been possible. These include numerous transportation projects including new roads, road widenings, intersection improvements and sidewalks; fire engines and fire stations; land for parks and green space; trails; libraries; the animal shelter and more.