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Voters say 'no' to proposed T-SPLOST

The transportation sales tax was projected to generate hundreds of millions of dollars in Central Georgia over the next 10 years.

Tuesday night, voters in Central Georgia counties said "no" to the T-SPLOST, which would have added a penny to the sales tax.

The transportation sales tax was projected to generate hundreds of millions of dollars in Central Georgia over the next 10 years.

That money would have been used on improvements to roadways.

The vote will have an impact on Baldwin County.

It's 'back to the drawing board' for local leaders in 11 Central Georgia counties like Baldwin County.

"We went to the voters because we see a problem, and now we still have it today," said Baldwin County manager Carlos Tobar.

Last week, 13WMAZ met up with Tobar at a "washed out" road in Baldwin County and discussed how those types of roads would benefit from T-SPLOST dollars if 11 Central Georgia counties unanimously passed the proposal on May 22nd.

"I do want to say I am thankful that the Baldwin County residents voted in favor of the T-SPLOST," said Tobar.

Baldwin County may have voted in favor of the T-SPLOST, but the number of counties who voted "no" won by a narrow margin.

"We don't live or work in a vacuum, we have to all travel within counties -- our goods and services need to move through all these different roads," Tobar said.

Tobar says the "penny tax" funds would've gone toward projects like repaving and widening roads.

In Baldwin, there were major road projects proposed, but now they'll be put on hold.

"We cannot go an bury our heads in the sand. We have to figure out a way to move forward," said Tobar.

Tobar says adequate roads and transportation systems are essential to things like economic development and reducing traffic congestion. "We have to look at our options and see what other funding sources are available."

Tobar says those are sources like grants, property taxes, and potentially a local T-SPLOST for Baldwin County.

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