Mushroom growers keep farming alive in Chatham County
Bo Ballance talks about his Garden City farm and how they grow mushrooms for local restaurants.
Chatham County residents will vote in November on the eighth iteration of the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST).SPLOST is a 1% sales tax used to fund public projects like parks, schools, and roads.
For 40-plus years, the special local option sales tax (SPLOST) has been powering major infrastructure, recreational and transportation projects in Chatham County. In November, Chatham County, Ga., residents will go to the polls to vote for its eighth iteration.
SPLOST imposes a 1% sales tax in counties to fund capital projects, such as playgrounds and community centers, schools, roads and bridges, and other public facilities. Eligible county voters choose whether or not to renew SPLOST every six years.
This week municipal governments are signing intergovernmental agreements with Chatham County, laying out broadly what the SPLOST funds will fund over the next six years and each governmental entities’ allocation. If residents vote to extend the one penny sales tax until 2032, the estimated revenue raised countywide will be $700 million.
Garden City approved its intergovernmental agreement at a meeting Monday night. Garden City will receive an estimated $21,800,000 if it passes for a range of investments.
What are Garden City’s priorities?
Garden City split their projects into four categories—facility improvements, infrastructure improvements, public safety and title acquisitions. All of the planned projects were taken into consideration due to feedback from residents, and a need for improved, modern facilities.
Similar to the City of Tybee Island, Garden City is in need of a new fire station. The fire station was remodeled from a gas station back in the 1950s, and has exceeded its lifespan, according to City Manager Rhonda Ferrell.
The city estimates that a new facility will cost between $8 million and $10 million dollars, and they purchased the property for it back in 2023.
For now, SPLOST is the only avenue that they have explored for constructing a new one, but not all of the estimated revenue will be going toward it. The city also plans to make more strides in improving the existing recreation facilities, and title acquisitions for their new 32,000-square-foot gymnasium. Part of the SPLOST 8 funds, if they get them will be to help pay some of the debt for the new multipurpose recreation complex.
Like other cities, they will also use the funds for the purchase of new city vehicles, such as a new pump truck for the fire department. The city is also planning on completing stormwater improvements and infrastructure improvements on Telfair Place and Telfair Road, which Ferrell said have deteriorated due to 30 years of truck traffic and are prone to flooding.
Destini Ambus is the general assignment reporter for the Savannah Morning News, covering the municipalities, and community and cultural programs. You can reach her at DAmbus@gannett.com