2016 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax
Overview
On November 8, 2016, the voters of Douglas County approved a one-cent Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) to begin April 2017. The SPLOST is to be divided into the following categories/allocations:
- 32% Fire/EMS/Public Safety Radio System
- 51% Transportation
- 17% Parks and Recreation
The SPLOST will last for 6 years, and the County’s share of revenues over that period of time is estimated to be $106 million.
Fire/EMS/Public Safety Radio System: 32%
In order of priority:
- Public Safety Digital Radio System: $16,500,000
- Ambulances: $225,000 each (to be purchased on a schedule for equipment replacement)
- Fire Trucks: $550,000 each (to be purchased on a schedule for equipment replacement)
- Aerial Trucks (Ladder Trucks): $1,000,000 each (to be purchased on a schedule for equipment replacement)
- Heavy Rescue Equipment: $400,000 each (to be purchased on a schedule for equipment replacement)
- Fire Station and Fire/EMS Headquarters Renovations: $2,000,000
- Staff Vehicles: $200,000 total (to be purchased on a schedule for equipment replacement)
- Computer Upgrades: $100,000
- Fire Station Number 9 Construction, Equipment Installation, and Vehicles/Apparatus: $4,200,000 (to be constructed on County-owned land on Douglas Hill Road off Thornton Road/Camp Creek parkway)
- Completion of the Fire Training Complex: $1,000,000 (Wortham Road adjacent to the Cedar Mountain Landfill)
- Fire Safety Education (mobile) House: $100,000
- The Cities of Douglasville and Villa Rica will reimburse 27.6% of the Fire/EMS expenditures since the Douglas County Fire/EMS Department provides services within these cities (estimated $3,700,000). All costs are preliminary estimates and are subject to change. Project prioritization is based on the Fire/EMS 6-year plan.