Mayor Robert Reichert savors victory as the Bibb County SPLOST is approved easily.
The $190 million Bibb County SPLOST won approval Tuesday with surprising ease.
48 precincts of 48
YES 14809
NO 5572
Mayor Robert Reichert told 13WMAZ that "it's a statement by the people that they are ready to reinvest in their community."
In an live interview, the Mayor said voters wanted "cooperation and collaboration" between the city and Bibb County. "And I think it's paid off big."
The SPLOST won approval in every precinct.
Mayor Reichert and Bibb County Commission Chairman Sam Hart, Sr. campaigned heavily for the SPLOST.
Hart says he thinks the widespread appeal of the projects the SPLOST will pay for helped get voter support.
"I think the deal was sealed because we got the community behind it, for the first time we had a real lively community involvement," says Hart.
Proceeds from the 1 percent sales tax would provide about $40 million in costs for public safety, including a new animal control center and buying the police department and sheriff's office cars.
The SPLOST would allocate $24 million to infrastructure improvements like repairing streets and storm drainage.
About $13 million goes towards capital outlay projects, which include purchase of lease equipment and public safety and other equipment.
Economic development would cost about $25 million. It includes buying property to solve the encroachment issue with Robins Air Force Base.
The city and county would also retire about $45 million of their debt.
The remainder of the money generated by the SPLOST, about $4 million, would go toward recreation and cultural arts.
The six-year SPLOST is estimated to raise about $190 million but Hart says they won't wait for the money to come in to get the ball rolling.
He says Wednesday morning he plans to send a letter to the mayor's office about establishing a SPLOST oversight committee.
"The oversight committee is a very important part of this, in terms of making sure we do what we said we were going to do," says Hart.
Reichert says the committee will likely consist of six citizens-- three appointed by the city, and three by the county.
Hart says they'll also look for a project manager to deal with the timing and funding of the projects.