Transportation Special Local Option Sales Tax (T-SPLOST), a 1 cent sales tax that generates revenue for road projects, will go into effect April 1 in Decatur County.

T-SPLOST was voted into effect last November. It will add an extra cent to all sales in Decatur County, with the exception of gasoline, effectively raising the sales tax from 7 percent to 8 percent.

The tax increase will generate revenue for road projects that can only be done in Decatur County. The revenue from TSPLOST cannot be used outside of county lines. Around $24 million is expected to be generated over T-SPLOST’s five-year cycle. The referendum will end on March 31, 2023.

The distribution of T-SPLOST’s revenue will be 61.61 percent to Decatur County, 35 percent to the City of Bainbridge, 1.61 percent to Attapulgus, .77 percent to Brinson and 1.01 percent to Climax.

Revenue generated from T-SPLOST will occur whether a buyer is from Decatur County or not.

When T-SPLOST’s cycle ends in March 2023, the referendum can be reduced or renegotiated at that time.

Decatur County is actively working toward lowering its millage rate for taxpayers, and passing T-SPLOST is a step the county has taken toward that goal. By having a special revenue stream from sales tax that can solely be used for road projects, Decatur County’s general budget can have more breathing room.