County Enters into Agreement with Ringgold, Fort Oglethorpe for Use of Funds
RINGGOLD – The Catoosa County Board of Commissioners adopted resolutions to hold an election that will ask citizens to continue the 1% SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) and enter into agreements with the cities of Ringgold and Fort Oglethorpe for the use and distribution of 2024 SPLOST funds.
If approved by voters, the 2024 SPLOST will collect up to $96 million over six years for capital outlay projects supporting critical public safety, infrastructure, equipment, and building needs. The intergovernmental agreement will provide 80.14% of collected 2024 SPLOST funds to Catoosa County, 14.83% to the City of Fort Oglethorpe, and 5.03% to the City of Ringgold.
The 2024 SPLOST election will be held on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. Collection of voter-approved 2019 SPLOST funds will continue through June 30, 2024, and if the 2024 SPLOST is approved collection will begin July 1, 2024 and continue through June, 2030.
“Since the SPLOST was first approved by voters in 1994, the funds have paid for so many things our neighbors depend on everyday including roads, sanitary sewers, public buildings, parks, police, and fire protection,” said Catoosa County Chairman Larry C. Black. “By being a border community along a busy U.S. Interstate highway, a significant portion of collected SPLOST funds come from purchases made by people living outside of Catoosa County.”
The Intergovernmental Agreement summarizes the SPLOST Capital Expenditures for the 2024 Cycle, totaling $96 million:
- Fort Oglethorpe Projects: $14,236,800
- Ringgold Projects: $4,828,800
- Catoosa County Sewer Projects: $8,400,000
- Comprehensive Recreation Program: $2,700,000
- Emergency Equipment/911 Upgrade: $125,000
- Fire Department Equipment/Hydrants: $7,100,000
- Fire Department Buildings: $3,300,000
- Sheriff’s Office Vehicles: $3,650,760
- Sheriff’s Office Detention Center: $2,000,000
- Sheriff’s Office Equipment: $29,790
- Catoosa County Equipment/Vehicles: $2,550,000
- Public Buildings & Grounds: $8,000,000
- Roads & Bridges: $30,376,000
- Library Books & Equipment: $300,000
- Stormwater Projects: $7,067,850
- GIS/IT: $1,335,000
For additional information contact Catoosa County Public Information Officer John Pless at (423) 779-4069 or john.pless@catoosa.com
