A project request form for organizations and individuals to submit potential projects for consideration as part of a possible Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST) 2023 program for Athens-Clarke County are now available online at www.accgov.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 follow up requests for any needed additional information. Projects will be reviewed in the order that they are received. 

Project request forms are due from the public no later than August 15, 2021 and from ACCGov departments no later than July 28, 2021. Potential TSPLOST projects can be very complicated and require detailed information, particularly for cost projections. 

In most cases, individuals interested in submitting a project for consideration should work with an organization or agency or contact the appropriate ACCGov department for assistance. Departments may also be aware of similar project requests from other groups or individuals. 

The following are ACCGov department contacts who should be contacted with any questions:

• Airport related projects - Athens-Ben Epps Airport (706-613-3420) – Mike Mathews, Director

• Bus related projects – Transit Department (706-613-3432) – Pat Hale, Interim Director

• Greenways or Rail to Trails related projects - Leisure Services Department (706-613-3800) – Kent Kilpatrick, Director

• Road, street, bridge, stormwater, sidewalk, and bicycle related projects (other than greenways or rail to trails) - Transportation & Public Works Department (706-613-3440) – Stephen Bailey, Interim Director

ACCGov will host an in-person public information session to provide assistance and answer questions about the project request forms in early July 2021. The date, location, and time will be announced soon. An instructional video to explain the project request form will also be posted online soon. Both will be posted online at www.accgov.com/tsplost.

Georgia law allows local communities to use TSPLOST proceeds for transportation-related purposes, if approved by voters in a referendum. The first TSPLOST for Athens-Clarke County, TSPLOST 2018, was a 1% sales tax approved by voters in November 2017. Collections began on April 1, 2018 and are scheduled to end in late 2022 or early 2023 after collecting an estimated $109.5 million for 19 projects.

The TSPLOST 2023 Advisory Committee is a group of 22 residents appointed by the Mayor and Commission. The committee is responsible for recommending a list of candidate projects for adoption by the Mayor and Commission. Athens-Clarke County residents will vote on May 24, 2022 on the program and the final list of projects approved by the Mayor and Commission.

If voters approve a TSPLOST 2023 program on May 24, 2022, TSPLOST sales tax collection will continue uninterrupted at the expiration of the current TSPLOST 2018 collections. The local sales tax rate of 8% would not increase as a result of the TSPLOST 2023 program. 

The TSPLOST website at www.accgov.com/tsplost contains a link to the projection submission form, a calendar of upcoming TSPLOST meetings and deadlines, and other information related to the potential TSPLOST 2023 program and the current TSPLOST 2018 program. The SPLOST/TSPLOST Program Management Office, which oversees the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) and TSPLOST programs for Athens-Clarke County, is coordinating the TSPLOST 2023 process. 

For more information about the TSPLOST 2023 project submission process, contact SPLOST and TSPLOST Program Administrator Keith Sanders at 706-613-3025 or [email protected].