Election Board, county staff measure work with voter challenges ► PAGE 3 A u g u s t 8 , 2 0 2 4 | A p p e n M e d i a . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 2 8 , N o . 3 2
County considers proposal to keep millage rate same By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA
County officials discuss projects that could be funded by SPLOST IX at a July 30 information session at Brandywine Elementary School. The sales tax program could provide more than $354 in funding for transportation, parks and recreation, fire, water and sewer as well as law enforcement projects.
Officials showcase county projects ahead of November sales tax vote By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) program is expected to generate more than $354 million over six years, funding numerous projects across the county. But Forsyth County voters will first
need to approve the tax program. SPLOST IX, the next iteration of a program that started in 1987, goes before voters in November. The penny sales tax could fund projects ranging from road widenings and intersection improvements to park and trail repairs to fire and law enforcement vehicles, facilities and equipment. Unlike alternative methods of fund-
ing improvements, like budget increases and bonds, the SPLOST program receives considerable funding from residents who live outside the county. In 2023, SPLOST VIII received about 34 percent of its money from sales tax contributed by visitors to Forsyth County.
See SPLOST, Page 13
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Commission heard presentations on a maintained maintenance and operations millage rate at their Aug. 1 meeting. Commissioners are scheduled to consider adopting the millage rate and Fiscal Year 2025 proposed budget at an Aug. 15 meeting. The rate proposed to commissioners will remain at 4.791 mills. The bond millage rate would decrease to 0.6 mills. The fire millage rate would increase to 2.505 mills. One mill generates $1 for every $1,000 of a property’s taxable value, which by state law, is 40 percent of a property’s real – or fair market – value.
See MILLAGE, Page 13
JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA
Forsyth County commissioners listen to a presentation Aug. 1 on a proposed spending plan and funding for 2025.