Clayton County Board of Commissioners Special Called Meeting - February 12, 2026
Clayton County Board of Commissioners Special Called Meeting - February 12, 2026
The Board of Commissioners held a special called meeting on February 12, 2026, to consider the reimposition of the county's one‑percent Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) for capital outlay projects. The meeting included a presentation from the Deputy Chief Operating Officer on revised project funding options, public comment, and a unanimous vote to adopt a resolution calling a referendum for the 2027 SPLOST.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Orlando Gooden (District 3) questioned whether the board considered public priorities, stating that funding million‑dollar sports complexes is not a priority for a tier‑one county. He also expressed concern that projects listed for 2029 might not be realized.
- Mickey Garber yielded the floor without speaking.
Discussion Items
- DCOO Landry Merkerson presented revised options for the SPLOST project list. The original plan had used the Public Facilities Authority (PFA) to fund $59 million in fleet needs outside the SPLOST, but the county could not absorb the bond payments. Option 2 added the fleet needs back into the SPLOST, requiring reductions and removals: flooding infrastructure reduced from $2 million to $750,000; headquarters reconditioning reduced to $750,000; police academy and indoor firing range removed; parks trails ($5 million) removed; park security cameras reduced from $2 million to $1 million; field lighting reduced from $4.5 million to $3.5 million; matching grant funds ($2 million) removed; and bridge replacement projects (New Hut Road, East Fettwell Road, King Road) replaced with a $10 million bridge maintenance program. Total requests after changes: $234,888,186, leaving a balance of $35,564 against the county’s allotment of $234,923,750.
- Commissioners discussed flooding remediation, noting that the reduced amount would supplement other grants ($24.8 million hazard mitigation grant and $2.6 million EPA grant). On bridges, Director of Transportation and Development stated that Georgia DOT inspects bridges every two years and the county will prioritize safety, but replacement funding is not guaranteed. Commissioner Hunter asked about promoting the SPLOST; the county attorney clarified that education about ballot items is allowed but endorsement is not. Commissioner Allen inquired about using SPLOST funds for land acquisition; the county attorney noted land acquisition is allowed if related to a SPLOST project, but buying land without a specific project would require legal review. DCOO Merkerson presented a third option including funds for future economic development and land acquisitions, but the board did not adopt it.
Key Outcomes
- Resolution 2025‑163 – A resolution to reimpose a one‑percent special sales and use tax, specifying projects, calling a county‑wide election, and approving the ballot language. The motion passed unanimously (all ayes, no oppositions or abstentions).
- Resolution 2025‑164 – An intergovernmental agreement between the county and its municipalities for distribution of SPLOST proceeds. The motion passed unanimously.
- The board then voted unanimously to enter executive session for personnel matters and later reconvened and adjourned.
Meeting Transcript
The special call meeting for the Clayton County Board of Commissioners. Our SPLOSS meeting is now called to order. The date is August 8th, 2025, and the time is 9 o'clock AM. We will next move into our roll call, District 1, District 3, District 2 and District 4. Thank you. All right. Next, we will go into our uh we don't have an invocation, but we will go into the Pledge of Allegiance to our flag. Will you please stand for the pledge? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. All right. At this time I need a motion to adopt the agenda. So move. Alright, can I get a second? Second. All right. Is there any discussion at this time, board members? All right. Are you ready for the vote? All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed. Any abstentions? The ayes have it. And the motion passes. I also want to thank as we go into before we start public comment today. Um Tahijah, can we get the sheet for public comment? Um I just want to thank our mayors for coming out. I have Mayor Flew Allen from Lovejoy. You could just wave and um and give her a round of applause. And Mayor Dotson from Lake City. Let's give them a round of applause. Are any of our other mayors here? I just want to thank the mayors too. Um they have been a part of this SPLOS process, and we are all working together. Um we're not only just dealing with SLOS, but moving Clayton County from tier one to tier two with our tier two task force, which we we're gonna probably be doing some um talking on that, and everybody also we have our GDOT summit that's gonna be coming up too. So please come out. We're gonna be talking about transportation in our community and things of that nature. So thank you all. All right. Next will be public comment, and I'll get to heal. You can go um with the public comment. Citizens will be given a three-minute uh maximum time limit to speak before the board of commissioners. Please note that all public comments must be limited to the matters on the agenda or over matters which the governing body has jurisdiction. Speakers must maintain the course of demeanor and refrain from personal attacks upon board members shouting and up using obscene language. Following 30 minutes of hearing from the public, the board of commissioners will allow the remainder of citizens who have signed up to be heard at the next Tuesday business meeting. Citizens, please speak clearly when stating your name and residence. Thank you. All right. Next for public comment, our first person is Orlando Gooden.
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