SPLOST is on the ballot this November, and it's also the topic of The Chat Podcast this week.

The Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, better known as SPLOST, is a 1% sales tax on all purchases made in Chatham County, and Suzanne Cooler, the director of Chatham County's Engineering Department, joins Will to talk about the details. 

The purpose of SPLOST is to raise additional revenue that local governments can use to complete specific projects without overburdening local taxpayers with property tax increases. Since SPLOST is a sales tax, visitors who don’t pay property taxes can also contribute to local improvements. According to a study from the Savannah Chamber of Commerce, visitors contribute over 40% of the total SPLOST revenue.

Chatham County has enjoyed the benefits of SPLOST since the State of Georgia first made the additional sales tax legal in 1985. Chatham County voters have passed the tax every in every continuation vote since,  generating over $2.2 billion in revenue. That money has funded countless roads, drainage, recreation, economic development and civic projects, all of which are used and enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.

This year, SPLOST 8 is on the ballot, with more large scale projects planned, including drainage improvements countywide, public safety improvements, a study to remove the Presidents Street Railroad Crossing, numerous road resurfacing projects, and continued improvements to recreation facilities, trails, and sidewalks.