Wrightsville Mayoral Candidate, Lee Williamson speaks about the Johnson County SPLOST.
Wrightsville Mayoral Candidate, George Milligan speaks about the Johnson County SPLOST.
Tuesday many people will hit the polls and residents in Johnson County will vote either for or against their county SPLOST.
13WMAZ sat down with officials in Wrightsville to find out what the Special Local Option Sales Tax will go to, if it's passed.
"We're working with 30-year-old fire hoses and 20-year-old fire trucks." says mayoral candidate and city councilman George Milligan.
Councilman Lee Williamson is also running for mayor in Wrightsville. He says, "Without it we're going to be in a pinch to make some of these improvements that we really need."
Both mayoral candidates say they hope to continue the current SPLOST, which first passed to build a county jail.
Johnson County Administrator, Guy Singletary says the new SPLOST will replace old public safety equipment. He says Johnson County buys used patrol cars from larger counties, but because of the economy those counties aren't getting new cars.
"We're dedicating more money into the repairs and maintenance of the vehicles we have and in a lot of cases these vehicles aren't running anymore." says Singletary.
Councilman Lee Williamson says public safety upgrades should improve the county's insurance ratings and reduce costs for business and home owners.
Adding Wi-Fi to downtown Wrightsville is also in the SPLOST plan, and Pastor Randy Parmer says it's a great idea.
"Being able to come into the city knowing I can sit down if I have work to do, I can stay here and do my work and not have to go back to my office." says Parmer.
The Wi-Fi will connect to surveillance cameras and Milligan says Wrightsville Police can use them to keep an eye on the downtown area.
If the SPLOST passes, Milligan says cameras will be put on the buildings in downtown Wrightsville.
He says that will cut down on the money needed to hire new police officers.
Singletary says the SPLOST should also help relieve some of the tax burden on property owners.
"We will now fund projects that were once funded through the general fund, through the SPLOST. " says Singletary.
New equipment for Johnson County's recreational department is also on the SPLOST's agenda and city officials say Wrightsville could face budget cuts if the SPLOST doesn't pass.