Columbus could get $303M for transportation projects. The cost? GA’s highest sales tax
Editor’s note: Voters approved this tax during the May 2022 primaries. Click here for more.
A 1% regional sales tax could fund an estimated $303.2 million worth of listed transportation projects in Columbus if voters from around the region approve it this month.
The county’s tax rate is currently the highest in the state of Georgia — 9% as of April 1. It would drop to 8% at year’s end if May’s Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST) fails. The sales tax proceeds are used for specific transportation projects.
The vote comes months after Columbus residents approved a 1% sales tax to fund the construction of a new judicial center and other capital expenses.
Here’s what you need to know:
What are the projects?
Columbus project list is as follows:
Riverwalk repaving: $12.5M. Resurface parts of the Columbus Riverwalk from the Trade Center to Oxbow and from City Mills to North Highland Dam.
Steam Mill Road improvements: $22.5M. From Buena Vista Road to the end of the road, widen from two to three lanes with sidewalks, multi-use trail, streetscapes and a pedestrian bridge across I-185.
Whitesville Road widening: $12.8M. From Whittlesey Road to Williams Road, widen from two to three lanes. The project also includes intersection improvements or roundabouts with sidewalks and multi-use trail.
Buena Vista Road corridor improvements: $10.7M. Making road from Wynnton Road to Illges Road three lanes (widening from 2 and 4 lanes). Improvements include sidewalks and multi-use trail.
South Lumpkin Road improvements: $10.1M. From Victory Drive to Roundabout, the project will include sidewalks and a multi-use trail.
University Avenue lane reduction/streetscapes: $6M. From Manchester Expressway to Macon Road. Reduce roadway from four lanes to two lanes with Pedestrian / Bicycle Facilities.
13th Avenue / 17th Street /Linwood Boulevard: $6.65M. Install roundabout.
Liberty Theater Block Enhancement (8th Ave.): $4M. Streetscape enhancement along 8th Avenue and 7th Avenue from 8th Street to 9th Street.
5th Avenue connector: $690,000. Construct .5 miles of multi-use path from 14th Street to 10th Street
Andrews Road improvements: $6.8M. On Andrews Road from Buena Vista Road to Cusseta Road, widen from 2 to 3 lanes with sidewalks, multi-use trail and landscaping.
Brennan Road improvements: $9.2M. From Buena Vista Road to Cusseta Road, widening from 2 to 3 lanes with sidewalks, multi-use trail and streetscapes.
Second Avenue improvements: $18.2M. From Manchester Expressway to Talbotton Road / 19th Street. Project to include multi-use trails, sidewalks and landscaping.
JR Allen at Schomburg and Blackmon: $11.3M. Schomburg Road / JR Allen Ramp Improvements: Eastbound and Westbound ramps. Schomburg Road - Blackmon Road Connector (Eastbound): Convert the intersection to a 2-lane roundabout. JR Allen / US 80 / Blackmon Road: Convert the intersection of Blackmon Road and the US 80 Westbound on-ramp to a two-lane roundabout.
Forrest Road widening: $15.4M. Widen Forrest Road from Macon Road to Woodruff Farm Road from 2 to 3 lanes with a roundabout at Trinity Drive and Forrest Road. This project will include sidewalks and multi-use trail.
Morris Road improvements: $12M On Morris Road from Buena Vista Road to Forrest Road, widen from 2 to 3 lanes with sidewalks, multi-use trail and landscaping.
Cusseta Road widening: $17.6M. Widen from 2 lanes to 3 lanes with roundabouts. Stretches include 10th Avenue to N. Lumpkin Road, North Lumpkin at 23rd, and Brown at Andrews Road. Project to include sidewalks and a multi-use trail.
Williams Road widening: $18.7M. On Williams Road from SR1/US 27 (Veteran’s Parkway) to I-185, widen from 2 to 3 lanes. Install roundabout at Williams Road and I-185 and Fortson Road. Areas will include pedestrian/bicycle amenities.
Double Churches Road improvements: $12.2M. From Veteran’s Parkway to River Road. Project to include multi-use trail and sidewalks with intersection improvements or roundabout at Double Churches & Whitesville Road.
County Line / Mehaffey/Central Church Road improvements: $37.45M. In Muscogee and Harris Counties, the project includes interchange/ intersection Improvements, widening bridge, and widening Mehaffey Road from 2 lanes to 3 lanes. Project to include pedestrian/bicycle facilities. The Georgia Department of Transportation will partly fund this project.
Bull Creek Dragonfly Trail Connector: $8.4M - Construct roughly 9.5 miles of multi-use paths following Bull Creek until reaching the Woodruff Farm Road Soccer Complex. This project would act as a connector to the Riverwalk and MLK Connector.
METRA: $25M
Columbus Airport: $25M. Passenger terminal expansion
The total number of projects funded by this tax in the River Valley Region is 46, up from 23 in the 2012 TSPLOST that passed, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation.
The TSPLOST is expected to generate $665 million in revenue over 10 years. Of that, 75% is dedicated to the regional project list. (The budget for the regional project list is $400 million to account for inflation.) The other 25% can be spent however the county chooses on other transportation needs, and Columbus is expected to get another $36.5 million here.
How does the vote work?
The tax must be approved by a vote of 50% plus one within the River Valley Region. The region is comprised of 16 counties, each getting its own set of transportation projects.
The counties are: Muscogee, Chattahoochee, Marion, Talbot, Harris, Stewart, Webster, Taylor, Schley, Macon, Sumter, Quitman, Clay, Randolph, Dooly and Crisp. No county can opt out of the TSPLOST.
Columbus voters have large sway over the vote. Muscogee County’s population neared 207,000 in the 2020 Census. The other 15 counties topped out at just over 162,000. In the July 2012 TSPLOST, Muscogee County voters cast about 47% of the total ballots.
What other benefits come with passing a TSPLOST?
If the region passes another TSPLOST, Columbus would be in a position to better use state funds for infrastructure improvements on county-owned roads and bridges.
The program, known as the Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant (LMIG) program, administers state motor fuel tax funds to local governments for this work.
The state funds require a match from local governments. If the TSPLOST is approved, the match is only 10%. Without the tax, the match is 30%.
Tax rate
The current sales tax in Columbus is 9%:
- 4% is the state’s sales tax. It doesn’t expire.
- 1% is the city’s LOST (Local Option Sales Tax). It doesn’t expire. The revenue pays for services that otherwise would be funded through property taxes.
- 1% is the city’s OLOST (Other Local Option Sales Tax). It doesn’t expire. The revenue funds expenses for public safety (70%) and infrastructure (30%).
- 1% is the school district’s ESPLOST. Voters approved it in 2020. The revenue funds capital projects for education.
- 1% is the SPLOST. Voters approved it in 2021. It funds capital outlay projects proposed by the county government.
- 1% is the regional TSPLOST. It expires Dec. 31, 2022 unless voters approve this tax in May. The revenue funds capital projects for transportation.
The 9% rate is the highest in city history. While Columbus has Georgia’s highest sales tax rate, Phenix City residents are paying 9.5%.
Early voting began May 2 and Election Day is Tuesday, May 24.
This story was originally published May 2, 2022 at 9:53 AM.