Effingham County voters do not renew SPLOST by 140 votes

EFFINGHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) — Effingham County voters decided Tuesday not to renew the county’s SPLOST, with the measure failing by 140 votes, or less than 1%. A new library and park expansion are on hold.

What the penny paid for

The penny was meant to pay for projects such as roads, first responder vehicles, parks and libraries.

County commissioners said recent quality-of-life upgrades were made possible by the SPLOST penny.

“For us to continue to bring these type projects to the citizens, we have to have the funding. And SPLOST was a tool for that,” said Forrest Floyd, Effingham County commissioner for District 1.

Who paid in

Floyd told WTOC he hoped to keep that momentum going with plans for a new library and more parks.

Floyd said millions in SPLOST revenue came directly from visiting commuters and heavy industry such as the McIntosh Power Plant, not just local residents.

Residents question use of the money

Some residents were not satisfied and questioned how the money was used.

Rincon property owner Matt Spaccarelli said in a statement, in part: “I voted no on the SPLOST — I would have voted for a pay-as-you-go plan: collect the money, then spend it.”

What happens next

Floyd said the SPLOST was for the community’s benefit. He said projects with funds already set aside will be finished. Future plans, including park expansions and a new library, are on hold while commissioners determine how to fund them without SPLOST money.

Current projects will be completed with leftover SPLOST money. Commissioners said they must now re-evaluate how to pay for future projects.

“Effingham County is a great community. And things are going well up here... If they would just step back and look, Effingham is a great place to live. People are still coming up here, nobody’s leaving Effingham. And I think that people just need to reevaluate and realize that we’re trying to do the best we can and make this a great community. And I think we’ve done a great job,” Floyd said.