Athens-Clarke County SPLOST Program

On November 2, 1999, voters approved the SPLOST 2000 (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) referendum, which allowed for the continuation of a one-cent sales tax to fund a diverse list of community projects.

Serving as an extension of city-county staff, Turner & Townsend Heery provided construction program management for a city/county five-year construction program of 29 improvement projects. The CIP includes a Natural Science and Applied Technology Center constructed of environmentally safe and recycled materials providing completely “green” construction and operation, fire training center, additions to an arts center, a jail infirmary and clinic, a new 800 MHz radio system, and expansion of the Police Administration and Operations Building.

Turner & Townsend Heery also provided program management for two new community parks, improvements to several community parks including the first totally ADA-accessible community park in Georgia, initiated neighborhood parks program with 17 county schools, and a new green way trail system with interpretive historic and natural history exhibits. Other improvements include bridges, storm drainage and road improvements, planning for a multi-modal transportation center, closure of a landfill and groundwater protection, and various other facility renovations and expansions.

Additional projects within the County’s SPLOST Program include:

• East Athens and Lay Park Community Centers
• Memorial Park Operations Center
• Bicycle Transportation Improvements
• Southeast Clarke County Community Park
• Winterville Park
• Sandy Creek Greenway/Buffer Expansion