Project request forms for organizations and individuals to submit potential projects for consideration as part of a possible Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax 2018 program for Athens-Clarke County are now available online at www.athensclarkecounty.com/tsplost.

Once completed, project request forms and supplementary materials may also be submitted online through www.athensclarkecounty.com/tsplost. It is highly recommended that interested parties submit request forms as early as possible once they are complete to allow time for staff review and requests for any needed additional information. Projects will be reviewed in the order that they are received. Project request forms are due no later than February 28, 2017.

Potential TSPLOST projects can be very complicated and require detailed information, particularly for cost projections. In most cases, it is advised that individuals interested in submitting a project for consideration should work with an organization or agency or contact the appropriate Athens-Clarke County department for assistance. Departments may also be aware of similar project requests that are being formulated by other groups or individuals. Department contacts related to TSPLOST projects can be found on the project request form.

The Unified Government will host three public information sessions over the coming months to provide assistance and answer questions about the project request forms. All three sessions will cover the same information. These sessions will be held:

Additionally, a project request form instructional video will be posted online in the coming weeks.

Georgia law allows local communities to use TSPLOST proceeds for transportation purposes if approved by voters in a referendum. The Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission approved program goals, project selection criteria, an implementation schedule, a task list, and the charge to the TSPLOST 2018 Citizens Advisory Committee at their October 5, 2016 Regular Session.

The TSPLOST Citizens Advisory Committee is a group of 22 citizens responsible for recommending a list of candidate projects for adoption by the Mayor and Commission to be voted on by citizens. The committee will be selected by the Mayor and Commission by November 2016 and will be listed on the website once named.

If voters approve a TSPLOST 2018 program on November 7, 2017, sales tax collection will begin in April 2018 as an additional sales tax on the current sales tax. The new TSPLOST sales taxes will be either 0.75% or 1% depending on whether an intergovernmental agreement is made with the cities of Bogart and Winterville.