Synovus' Anthony to chair SPLOST committee

Synovus CEO Richard Anthony will be the chairman of the Citizens' Committee for a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, the Muscogee County School Board announced at a work session Monday night.

Last week the board approved asking for a referendum on a sales tax that would collect approximately $223 million over the next five years for new schools and other construction. The election is to be held Sept. 15.

If the SPLOST is approved by voters, the tax would last five years or until the district collects $223 million to complete a variety of capital projects, including five new schools — a new Carver High, a new middle school, two new elementary schools and a fine arts academy — additions to Northside High and Richards Middle, and athletics and technology upgrades across the district.

The exact costs and specifics about each of the proposed SPLOST projects will be determined, Superintendent Susan Andrews said, and the district will be going back to the public for more input.

Anyone interested in serving on the citizens' committee should contact his or her board member.