$2.5 million stake in $40 million arts center on PTC’s SPLOST list
The Peachtree City Council on June 16 approved the items to be included on the city’s SPLOST (special purpose local option sales tax) list. Placement of the SPLOST on the November ballot and other issues will be addressed at the July 14 meeting of the Fayette County Commission.
Items were discussed as Tier 1 and Tier 2 projects. Tier 1 projects are the most pressing and would come into play if the county approves a 5-year SPLOST which gains voter approval in November while Tier 2 project would be funded if a 6-year SPLOST is on the ballot and approved by voters.
A 5-year SPLOST would be expected to generate $37.5 million for the city while a 6-year SPLOST could bring in $45.3 million. Cities are seeking a revenue distribution based on population figures from the 2010 census.
One of the items on the SPLOST list is $2.5 million for a countywide performing arts center. Specific information will be forthcoming at the July 14 meeting of the Fayette County Commission, said City Manager Jon Rorie. Currently known is that the school system has received a $20 million pledge from an anonymous donor for a project expected to cost $40 million or more. Currently unknown are issues such as what percentage of ownership the cities and county would have, who would operate and maintain the center, how center employment would be handled and how any profits would be split.
The city has developed an exhaustive SPLOST projects manual that can be viewed at http://www.peachtree-city.org/DocumentCenter/View/8350.
Pertaining to Tier 1 projects:
• Road resurfacing and maintenance totals $19.9 million while multi-use tunnels and bridge projects total $770,000 while multi-use path repair and maintenance totals $3.3 million.
• The public safety category has $2.1 million in items such as self-contained breathing apparatus, a replacement ambulance, digital radios, replacement aerial fire truck and police cameras.
• The cultural/performing arts category includes $2.5 million as the city’s contribution to a county performing arts center. While a Tier 1 item, the contribution was included based on voter approval for a 6-year SPLOST.
• The parks and recreation category has $1.02 million in four projects that include a “splash pad” at the Glenloch Recreation Complex, a restroom facility at Line Creek Nature Area Park, a causeway from All Children’s Playground to Drake Field and the development of a passive park on what has long been called Snake Island on Lake Peachtree.
• Intersection improvement projects total $2.36 million and include Crosstown and Peachtree Parkway, Ga. Highway 54 and Planterra Way, HWy. 54 and MacDuff parkway and Ga. Highway 74 and Kedron Drive.
• Multi-use path access and connectivity enhancement projects total $3.79 million.
• The Lake Peachtree dam and spillway projects total $1.65 million.
Tier 2 projects for transportation and multi-use path access and connectivity totals $7.2 million.
Countywide, a 5-year SPLOST would be expected to generate $116.5 million while a 6-year period would generate $140.6 million.
A 5-year SPLOST would also generate $53.4 million for the county, $17.4 million for Fayetteville, $7.5 million for Tyrone and $573,000 for Brooks.
The County Commission has until Aug. 22 to adopt a resolution calling for the SPLOST vote in November and provide the project lists from the participating local governments.
