Live updates: Columbus voters say ‘yes’ to $400 million sales tax, unofficial results show
Columbus voters went to the polls Tuesday and said “yes” to a 1% sales tax increase, soon bringing the city’s total rate to 9%.
Nearly 5,800 voters (54%) voted to approved the SPOLST, also called a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. More than 4,900 (46%) voted against the measure, according to the final unofficial tally.
About 8.5%, or 10,742 of Columbus’ 126,045 registered voters, cast a ballot in this election, data from the elections office show.
The tax will collect $400 million over the next 10 years beginning April 1, 2022. Half of that money will fund public safety projects, repairs like road surfacing and golf course management, technology upgrades and more.
The other half will be used to demolish the Government Center and rebuild a judicial center in its place. Mayor Skip Henderson previously told the Ledger-Enquirer that if the SPLOST had vote failed, Columbus Council would likely still pursue the project.
Columbus’ sales tax will rise to 9% on April 1. The current 8% sales tax breaks down like this:
- 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. It was renewed in June 2020. The revenue funds capital projects for education.
- 1% is the regional TSPLOST. It expires Dec. 31, 2022. The revenue funds capital projects for transportation.
The 9% is the highest rate in city history. As of October 2021, no Georgia county has a sales tax rate greater than 8.9%, according to the Georgia Department of Revenue. Some areas of Alabama have similar tax rates. Phenix City’s overall rate is currently 9.5%.
Mayor Skip Henderson was not immediately available for comment.
Follow along here as the Muscogee County Elections and Registration Office releases results:
10:02 p.m.: The final unofficial tally shows the “yes” result winning 54% of the total vote:
- YES: 5,798 (54%)
- NO: 4,933 (46%)
About 8.5%, or 10,742 of Columbus’ 126,045 registered voters, cast a ballot in this election, data from the elections office show.
9:03 p.m.: The latest report, with 17 of 25 precincts reporting, shows this updated vote total:
- YES: 4,507 (57%)
- NO: 3,436 (43%)
8:43 p.m.: With the early vote, some absentee by mail and 11 out of 25 precincts reporting, the tally is:
- YES: 3,562 (58%)
- NO: 2,537 (42%)
8:01 p.m.: Early in-person voting totals have been tallied.
- YES: 1,849
- NO: 1,107
This story was originally published November 2, 2021 at 8:05 PM.