It’s official. A referendum to continue the special-purpose local-option sales tax will be on the November 5 ballot in Henry County.

  The Board of Commissioners voted July 29 to approve a resolution calling for the referendum and also approved a project list which designates 67 percent of the revenue for transportation projects. Other high priorities on the list include various public safety upgrades, construction of an aquatic center and funding for two Boys and Girls Clubs.

  What didn’t get approved was an intergovernmental agreement with the county’s four cities, most of which preferred a 70-30 split of SPLOST revenue instead of the 75-25 favored by the county. In lieu of that, the board approved a Method 2 Population Distribution arrangement as provided for under state law. That means the new SPLOST, if approved by voters, will be a five-year program instead of the six years originally planned.

  This plan will allow the county to take 20 percent of total SPLOST revenues off the top for Level 2 projects, with the remaining money distributed based on population figures in the last census count. With a projected total of $204 million, the county is expected to receive $155,872,694 with the cities getting $48,127,306.

  The projected breakdown for each city, based on the 2010 census:

  •Hampton, $5,594,262 (3.427 percent).

  •Locust Grove, $4,325,204 (2.650 percent).

  •McDonough, $17,681,935 (10.834 percent).

  •Stockbridge, $20,525,905 (12.577 percent).

  In addition to the aquatic center and the Boys and Girls Clubs, he county’s approved project list includes a fleet replacement program, three police precincts, a police station, two new fire stations and rebuilds of two existing fire stations. More than $77 million of the county’s list is dedicated to transportation projects, including major improvements to Rock Quarry Road, Peeksville Road and Hwy. 81.

  The board’s action last week comes at the end of a process that took nearly a year and a half, with a number of public meeting convened by a committee made up of board appointees and those representing the cities.

  “Citizens were involved, cities were invited and this was an opportunity for all of us to identify projects. The projects list that this Board of Commissioners approved was a very good list. It covered projects, including public safety, transportation and impacted just about every part of this county including the cities,” said board chair Wood. “So, I say that the 70/30 option is what we will have to move with. We have given every opportunity to negotiate and to address this change [with the cities]. We’ve also got to move forward with an aquatic center and it needs to be one that we can be proud of.”

  Several commissioners echoed Wood’s sentiments about both the 70/30 split and the proposed aquatic center.

  “I agree with the chairwoman regarding the 70/30 allocation,” said Commissioner Bruce Holmes. “I think we should look at having the aquatic center truly centered and easily accessible along I-75 and it being something people can see as they ride through our county.”

  Commissioner Dee Clemmons said she was able to tour Cherokee County’s aquatic center and mentioned that having one like it in Henry County would grant different opportunities for the county’s Parks and Recreation Department in drawing people to the region. She also highlighted the county’s process to bring the Boys and Girls Clubs to Henry County and applauded the inclusion of seed money for a facility on the SPLOST V project list.

  “I am good with the 70/30 split,” said Commissioner Gary Barham. “The city of McDonough and District III share a lot of the same interest in the same projects, so I think we will be able to work that out and it won’t be an issue.”

  Commissioner Vivian Thomas addressed the lack of an intergovernmental agreement stating that the county wanted to move forward with the cities, not without them and reiterated her commitment to the citizens and what she has heard from them regarding what they want in terms of higher quality of life amenities.

  “Henry County has positioned itself to say that we are a county you come to because you are looking for a certain quality of life, a higher quality of life,” said Thomas. “Aquatic centers cost a lot of money but it’s time to move forward. We have to have projects here to draw everyone to this county and it needs to benefit the whole county.”

  If approved, SPLOST V will be a continuation of the penny sales tax and collections would begin April 1, 2020.