Pickens leaders explain proposed transportation sales tax: how it would work and when collections would start

Graham Parker asked Chris Stansell to explain a proposed Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (T‑SPLOST) and how it differs from the county's current SPLOST.

Chris Stansell, identified on the program as chairman, said a T‑SPLOST is a sales tax dedicated specifically to transportation projects—roads, storm drainage and sidewalks—and that "every penny collected from that penny sales tax would go to roads." He said the county's current SPLOST, passed in 2020 and set as a six‑year measure through 2026, directs a portion of county SPLOST receipts to roads but that the pace of paving (about nine miles per year on average) leaves secondary and tertiary roads falling behind.

Stansell described cost pressures—paving costs rose sharply over the prior five years—and cited a desire for a more predictable cycle of improvement (he suggested a 15‑year cycle as an example for resurfacing). He said the county maintains roughly 400 miles of locally maintained roads and noted municipal centerline mileages such as Jasper (about 42 miles), Talking Rock (about 2 miles) and Nelson (about 5.5 miles) to illustrate the scope.

Stansell said the Department of Community Affairs' online data show hundreds of Georgia counties have used similar mechanisms and that about two‑thirds of counties have some form of a T‑SPLOST or higher sales tax rate. He discussed outreach plans, saying the Chamber of Commerce will help distribute informational material and that officials hope to hold town halls where elected officials will present and answer voters' questions. "As a government, we can never ask for people to vote for anything. All we can do is provide the information," Stansell said.

On timing, Stansell said, "So, based on state law, if it passes in November, then the collection would start in April '25," and noted that it could take time for collections to accumulate before larger projects ramp up—he expected the county to take fuller advantage in the 2026 paving season. He added that, if voters reject the measure, commissioners would return to the drawing board to find other approaches to maintain roads.

Stansell urged voters to seek out posted materials and attend public meetings prior to casting ballots in the November 2024 general election.