Fort bus route ends; SPLOST vote set (Augusta-Richmond County, Hephzibah: sales, 2015)

[Airforceguy]

Hate to see the bus route go, but it was a necessary move. I'm hoping the new transit director can overhaul the whole system. Glad to see the SPLOST vote approved as well. Should be an interesting summer to see what projects are put on the list.

Augusta commissioners voted 8-2 Tuesday to terminate its unpopular and money-losing bus route to Fort Gordon after a six-month trial run.
Commissioner Bill Lockett, who pushed to get Augusta Public Transit service to Fort Gordon, said he agreed with terminating the route, effective June 27, due to the city’s financial position but hoped to see a route reinstated when the entire system is revamped under new director Pat Stevens.
Commissioners also voted 7-3 to approve holding a sales tax referendum on Nov. 3 with Lockett and commissioners Ben Hasan and Marion Williams opposed.

Fort bus route ends; SPLOST vote set | The Augusta Chronicle

[Worren]

The bus route was doomed from the start. The route didn't go where the riders wanted it to go. They hardly advertised it and the mini busses looked foreign to people used to riding busses that look like busses.

Watch out for the SPLOST. If we pass it, as soon as they start collecting the money they will approve the storm water fee. A double whammy to taxpayers and property owners. The last thing we need is two more taxes to pay. Instead of giving the local tax and spend government more to spend we need to force them to budget sensibly and carefully. Our part time commissioners would love to pass both of these money raising schemes so they can sit back and plan more ways to spend the taxpayer's money.

[cst8670]

Originally Posted by Worren

The bus route was doomed from the start. The route didn't go where the riders wanted it to go. They hardly advertised it and the mini busses looked foreign to people used to riding busses that look like busses.

Watch out for the SPLOST. If we pass it, as soon as they start collecting the money they will approve the storm water fee. A double whammy to taxpayers and property owners. The last thing we need is two more taxes to pay. Instead of giving the local tax and spend government more to spend we need to force them to budget sensibly and carefully. Our part time commissioners would love to pass both of these money raising schemes so they can sit back and plan more ways to spend the taxpayer's money.

Just wondering are you opposed to the taxes as a whole or just the way they are spending the money? If its on the whole I would point out that you get what you pay for or in other words if you wont pay for anything then you wont get anything. If on the other hand its the way they are spending the money then perhaps you should focus on getting them to spend the money wiser?

[Airforceguy]

Besides the new arena, the history museum and symphony are asking for funds as well. I'm intrigued by the airport's plan for an air-based industrial park a the south end of the airport.

The Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum Authority had pitched including a $90 million to $110 million new arena in the package. It has reconsidered its request and now seeks just $10 million to $15 million from SPLOST to help finance a replacement for James Brown Arena, Chairman Cedric Johnson said.
Williams said two neighborhood groups have requested information from him about applying for SPLOST funds.
The Augusta Museum of History is seeking SPLOST funds but hasn’t finalized its request, Executive Director Nancy Glaser said.
Noting the commission’s focus on infrastructure, the museum wants money to stabilize a property it owns next to the Broad Street museum to free up space for enlarged James Brown and Local Legends exhibits, Glaser said.
Last year, the museum sought $4.75 million for an expansion project, later reduced to $500,000 by the commission.
Anne Catherine Murray, the executive director of Symphony Orch*estra Augusta, said the symphony and the Miller Theatre board intend to resubmit a request for funds to renovate the Miller, likely less than the $12.9 million requested last year. The commission later reduced the allocation to $4.9 million.
With a SPLOST-funded storm sewer project set to start in the next few days, the Imperial Theatre also will seek funds from the new SPLOST to “truly finish off the theatre,” Executive Dire*ctor Charles Scavullo said.
The theater needs between $4 million and $6 million to complete renovations, and hopes to obtain from $2.5 million and $4 million of that from the SPLOST, he said.
Paine College, which last year was approved for $6 million in SPLOST funding toward a new James Brown Community and Fine Arts Cultural Center, didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Greater Augusta Arts Cou*ncil Executive Director Bren*da Durant said the climate isn’t there for the council to make a request this year.
Competing with community groups for funds are city departments which say their needs have only increased since SPLOST 7 failed at the polls last year.
“Our need is more important now because we didn’t get it last time,” said Lt. Allan Rollins of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office and other public safety departments still need a new $13 million radio system included in the last package, and $8 million for public safety vehicles, $1.3 million for vehicle equipment and $700,000 for downtown video security.
Hephzibah and Blythe had more than $10.3 million in projects on last year’s referendum, despite having fewer than 4,500 people combined.
Augusta Regional Airport has submitted a $24.7 million request to develop an air-based industrial park at the south end of the airport, Marketing Director Diane Johnston said.

Augusta groups begin submitting applications for SPLOST funding | The Augusta Chronicle

[Airforceguy]

It seems the list for SPLOST has been winnowed down to $210 million. Most of it for infrastructure, public safety and economic development.
The Arts Out Of SPLOST Package Proposal | WJBF-TV