The Rome bypass, the Alto Park softball complex and Walker Mountain Landfill are among the cornerstones of Floyd County that were built with revenue from a special purpose, local option sales tax.

From the first SPLOST passed in 1986 to the 2009 SPLOST approved in November, the 1-cent tax added to purchases is responsible for nearly $480 million worth of local projects.

“And that’s a lot of money spent by other people beside Floyd Countians,” County Commission Chairman John Mayes pointed out.

Countywide, voters passed 11 of the 14 government and school SPLOST packages put before them during the past 23 years.

Five of the 11 approved packages won majorities only in Rome, but it was enough to carry the vote. City voters also favored one of the three failed SPLOSTs, while voters in the unincorporated area rejected all three.

Mayes said there is a strong perception that more SPLOST money is spent inside the city than outside its borders, and he understands why the packages sometimes fail in the unincorporated area.

“But even if something is built in the city, I feel we all benefit,” he said. “It’s our center of commerce.”

Rome Mayor Wright Bagby Jr. complained about the lack of unincorporated support on Nov. 3, when the 2009 SPLOST barely squeaked through. Later, however, he said local leaders should focus more about making the long-term benefits clear.

“I think people tend to forget over time the truly amazing things SPLOST has accomplished,” he said. “Without it, we’d either be a second-class place or overwhelmed with bonded debt.”

School SPLOSTs

The first attempt at an education SPLOST failed in 1998, but Floyd County voters joined Romans to approve a four-year collection in 1999 and 5-year packages in 2003 and 2008.

Among the more than $200 million worth of school improvements that were — or will be — funded through the tax: Renovations and technology upgrades in every school, expansions at many, and the construction of new elementary schools (Johnson, Elm Street and Anna K. Davie), middle schools (Armuchee, Coosa and Model) and high schools (Pepperell and Model).

Government SPLOSTs

The following is a look at the government-sponsored SPLOST packages that have passed over the years:

1986: Limited to six months, the collection raised about $4 million to widen Shorter Avenue within the city limits and acquire right of way for the widening of Alabama Highway and for the bypass between U.S. 411 and Ga. 53. Passed by both city and county.

1988: The 4-year collection was to raise $34.4 million and leverage $47 million in state and federal road money. The package featured 20 road and bridge projects, including construction of the eastern bypass segment and the widening of U.S. 27 North, Old Summerville Road and Shorter Avenue/Alabama Highway from the city limits to Ga. 100.

Among the other projects were the Alto Park softball complex, the tennis center, The Forum, the recycling center and the animal shelter. Passed in city, failed in county.

1994: The 1-year, $10.6 million collection paid for the Walker Mountain Landfill and the county’s share of the rest of the bypass, including the $54 million southwestern leg under way now. Passed in both the city and county.

1995: The 34-month, $33.5 million collection paid for a major expansion of the Floyd County Jail, construction of the Law Enforcement Center and relocation of six fire stations. Passed in both the city and county.

2001: The 15-month, $15 million collection funded construction of State Mutual Stadium, home of the Rome Braves. Passed in the city, failed in the county.

2003: More than half of the $26.4 million, 2-year collection paid for the new Floyd County Health Department and a major upgrade of the city’s Black’s Bluff Wastewater Treatment plant.

Also included were a sewer extension on Old Dalton Road and improvements to Burnett Ferry and Old Dalton roads, six parks, the Cave Spring sewer system and the Fourth Avenue Courthouse, which is now the County Administration Building. Passed in the city, failed in the county.

2006: The $53 million, 39-month collection funded or partially funded a host of projects, including the $12 million Armuchee Connector and bridge across the Oostanaula River under way now.

Among the other items on the list were the Town Green, ECO Center river museum, Cave Spring fire station and community center, Boys & Girls Club, right of way for future U.S. 411 and Huffaker Road projects, the levee upgrade, a fire training center, the Historic Courthouse parking lot and park and intersection improvements. Passed in the city, failed in the county.

Click to read more about the 2006 SPLOST

2009: The bulk of the $42.3 million, 3-year collection will buy a $26.7 million countywide emergency communication system.

Other projects in the package are an industrial park, a makeover of Barron Stadium, fire department improvements, a regional commission building and a small offset for Cave Spring’s water system upgrade. Passed in the city, failed in the county.

Failed SPLOSTs

In addition to the first school SPLOST, two of the government-sponsored packages tanked at the polls:

A July 1992 vote on a 3-month, $2 million collection to build a minor league baseball stadium on Ga. 53, rejected by both city and county voters.

A June 2005 vote on a 30-month, $36.5 million collection to pay for 19 projects. Passed in the city, failed in the county.

Most of the proposed projects reappeared in the 2006 or 2009 packages. The exception: A $4 million sports complex to replace Barron Stadium. The deal to demolish the stadium as part of a West Third Street redevelopment also fell through.