Early voting begins today for the June 16 special election, which is a one-issue referendum on the proposed $184.7 million special-purpose sales tax package.

WHEN TO VOTE: Polls will be open at the Board of Elections office at the Municipal Building, 530 Greene St., Room 104, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. through June 5.

During advance voting week, June 8-12, polls will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Municipal Building office, the Henry Brigham Recreation Center at 2463 Golden Camp Road and the Warren Road Recreation Center at 300 Warren Road.

The voter registration deadline for the referendum is May 18.

SPLOST CAMPAIGN: Meanwhile, Prime Commercial Properties Inc. president and broker Janie Peel, Augusta Symphony Executive Director Sandra Self and others are embarking on a "say yes to SPLOST" campaign, with plans to network and pass out fliers at First Friday and Thunder on the River and to distribute stickers and yard signs.

The group talked strategy Wednesday over lunch at Casa Blanca Coffee Cafe on Broad Street, anticipating resistance from people opposed to the Regency Mall lake plan.

"How do you deal with the one-issue voters?" Roger Duke asked. "You need to have the reason why it's bigger than one issue."

BREAKDOWN: Of the money to be raised by extending the 1-cent sales tax, 67 percent would go toward infrastructure. The sales tax list also includes:

- $18 million for Municipal Building renovations

- $17 million to replace police vehicles and fire trucks

- $10.9 million for parks and recreation

- $10 million to pay off debt from money fronted to Medical College of Georgia to buy Gilbert Manor public housing project

- $5.7 million for Hephzibah and Blythe

- $5.1 million toward the Augusta Symphony's restoration of the Miller Theatre

- $4 million to dredge Lake Olmstead

- $3.5 million to create a lake near Regency Mall, part of a strategy to spur redevelopment there

- $2.5 million for Paine College's Health Education Activities Learning Complex

Board of Elections Executive Director Lynn Bailey has said she expects voter turnout for the election to be about 15 percent. The election will cost the city $83,290, which the Augusta Commission approved Tuesday.

For more information on voting, call the elections board at (706) 821-2340.

Reach Johnny Edwards at (706) 823-3225 or johnny.edwards@augustachronicle.com.