Just as Spalding County plans to prepare for discussions and public hearings for a Transportation Special
Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, or TSPLOST, several surrounding counties overwhelmingly approved SPLOSTs of their own this week. While the turnout was low in Lamar County at under 6%, voters approved an extension of the one cent sales tax for six more years, by a margin of 491 votes for and 84 against. The sales tax is expected to bring in just under $10 million, most of which will be utilized by Lamar County and the city of Barnesville for items like roadwork, public facilities renovations, and construction, as well as a recreation area slated for Highway 36. Milner will also receive a $375,000 chunk of that collection for public park improvements, water and sewer upgrades, and resurfacing. Neighboring Butts County passed a continuation of its one-cent Education SPLOST, with 86% voting in favor. It will last for five years and school officials say it should bring in around $18 million for construction and renovation projects across the school system. In addition, Fayette County received a 10 percent turnout Tuesday and voted by a margin of 70 to 30 to start a one cent sales tax for six years. It is anticipated to garner $141 million in revenue for transportation, stormwater infrastructure, public safety and facilities improvements. The money will be split between Fayette County, Peachtree City, Fayetteville, Tyrone, and Brooks. In another March 21 referendum, Upson County voted in favor of Sunday sales for packaged alcohol.