Dougherty County commissioners make short work of SPLOST agreement

ALBANY — In what may have been the shortest meeting in recorded local government history, the Dougherty County Commission took less than a minute Wednesday to approve an intergovernmental agreement with the city of Albany approving SPLOST VII projects lists proposed by both governing bodies.

Now, as County Commission Chairman Chris Cohilas pointed out after the meeting, “It’s up to the voters.”

The County Commission approved by consensus agreement a proposed $33.3 million projects list at its meeting Monday, sending that list to the Albany City Commission for approval at its business meeting Tuesday night. City leaders’ approval of their own $59 million SPLOST projects list and to the memorandum of understanding with the county at that meeting moved the approval process back into the county’s court.

County leaders put a bow on the process with their approval of the intergovernmental agreement at the special called meeting Wednesday morning.

“What we’ve presented is a list of projects geared toward infrastructure, as the law requires and good business sense dictates,” Cohilas said after Wednesday’s meeting. “This is such an awesome responsibility, and that’s why we are careful to make sure there is transparency in the process. The proposed projects have been reviewed by citizens in the community and by both city and county leaders. It’s up to the voters now to determine whether we continue this process that’s had such a huge impact on our community.

“I think it’s important that, historically, the past six SPLOSTs in our community have passed overwhelmingly. I think that indicates that there is a level of trust among our citizens that we are bringing forward projects that impact our community favorably.”

As the SPLOST process moves forward, the County Commission will call for a referendum Monday that will be included on the Nov. 8 general election ballot. Once that measure is taken, the county Board of Elections will hold a special called meeting Monday afternoon to set the election.

If the measure gets a majority of countywide votes Nov. 8, it will be in effect for the next six years. And, since the city and county reached the intergovernmental agreement on the measure, there will be no cap on the amount of 1 percent taxes that may be collected during that period.

“I think it’s significant that our citizens are aware that we’re able to fund these important improvements in our community with (SPLOST) funding, much of which comes from shoppers outside the county,” Cohilas said.