“Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax” is a mouth full. It’s a mouth full that has a plate full of benefits for the local municipalities in Gwinnett.
On Nov. 8, citizens will vote whether to continue this one-cent tax that stands to collect $1.35 billion over the next six years. This will be distributed to Gwinnett cities on a population basis. Lilburn’s portion is projected to be $20.8 million over the next six years.
The 2017 SPLOST realized $13.4 million for Lilburn, which has been spent on the new LPD Headquarters and Municipal Court complex; a new playground in City Park; PermaTrak bridges to replace wooden ones along the Greenway Trail; miles of city street repaving; and numerous other capital projects.
The 2023 SPLOST, if approved by citizens, will fund:
- Public Safety facilities and equipment: vehicle replacement, officer safety gear (9%)
- Recreational facilities and equipment: expand City Park into 20 contiguous city-owned acres between Killian Hill Road and the current park, a second playground, support equipment (21%)
- Transportation: connect Railroad Avenue and Highway 29; sidewalks and streetscaping on Railroad Avenue, Terry Lane, and Pine; realign and signalize Hood Road & new Bryson Park entrance – with a roundabout connecting Lilburn School Road; match state funding for street resurfacing projects; replace vehicles/equipment assigned to public works as scheduled. (70%).
A bonus to Gwinnett citizens is that a large portion of our SPLOST is funded by folks living outside our county, who shop in our community.
All this for your consideration on November 8.