Hart BOC to Hold Called Meeting Next Week to Discuss SPLOST Issue

Hart County Commissioners plan to hold a called meeting next week to discuss the next SPLOST referendum with local municipalities and stakeholders, but it might not be what those local leaders want to hear.

At their meeting Tuesday, Commissioner Joey Dorsey asked for the meeting because of the newly brought up issue of whether to use the penny sales tax revenue to build a new county jail.

Dorsey told the Board the county municipal leaders need to have a clear understanding of what’s going on.

“With the potential jail as a Level One project and still a lot of unanswered questions, I’d like for us to have a called meeting next week with (representatives from) the municipalities – the Cities of Royston, Hartwell, Bowersville and Canon, as well as the Water Authority, the Fire Department, the Industrial Building Authority as well as the public. So people understand the situation we’re in,” Dorsey said.

Dorsey had been pushing to have the next SPLOST referendum on the November ballot to save the County money, but said Tuesday it might have to be pushed into 2017 as a special election after all.

At their last meeting earlier this month, Hart County Sheriff Mike Cleveland told the Board the current 50-bed jail is too small and too old to renovate and he is having to spend thousands in County dollars to house out inmates – some as far away as Hall County.

“I’m not asking for a new jail,” he said. “I’m just telling you we gotta do something. We’ve got to make plans. The last thing I want to do is ask property owners for a tax hike while this SPLOST money may or may not be available. It’s something to consider.”

Building a new county jail is considered a Level One project by the State, which would take priority over any and all other earmarks.

That means SPLOST money for local municipalities, EMS, fire, water, and roads would either be knocked out completely or they would only get whatever might be left after paying to build a new jail.

Dorsey said all Stakeholders and the public need have a voice in the County’s decision.

“I think all the stakeholders and those who would be receiving funds need to have a dialogue with us so they know what we’re up against,” he said. “If this goes to a Level One project and we do a jail then the cities are going to be impacted dramatically.”

After more discussion, the Board agreed to meet next Thursday evening at 7p with representatives from each municipality and department to discuss the situation.

This will be an open meeting and the public is invited to attend.