Getting the job done

After backing and filling for months, Augusta commissioners finally are doing what they were elected to do - setting priorities and making the tough decisions on how to spend taxpayers' money. They are off to an encouraging start.

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First, they decided to ask voters to renew the 1-cent special-purpose local option sales tax in November. This was later than many SPLOST advocates wanted, but better late than never.

Second, in a wise and courageous move, commissioners opted to let the sales tax run until $380 million is collected, marking a serious investment in our community that could take a dozen years to meet. But those multimillions would pay for most, perhaps even all, of the infrastructure needs that will transform our city into something extremely appealing in terms of quality of life and a healthy economy.

The next order of business is to establish the priorities that the penny tax will pay for. For such a long-term tax to get voters' OK, residents in every section of the county must benefit in some significant way. No one should be left out.

In this regard, the commission got off to a constructive beginning by earmarking more than $8 million for two much-needed jail pods; more than $16 million in library upgrades and improvements; $8 million to cover bond payments to improve the Augusta Canal; and $800,000 to study the Savannah River.

There are still a lot more capital improvement priorities to be set, and we're sure there will be plenty of debate and possibly some disagreements, not only in what order the priorities should be listed, but also on which should be included.

Yet with a tax that could take 12 years to collect, it's reasonable to expect that the list on the ballot - not on a separate ballot - will include some of the more visionary projects that have been under discussion for months, such as a new sports arena at the shuttered Regency Mall location, a performing arts center and exhibition space.

It will be clearer to voters if they are asked to approve one list of priorities, not several. One ballot should also improve the chances for passage - surely a top consideration.

--From the Thursday, July 29, 2004 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle