SPRINGFIELD, Ga. — Effingham County voters will decide in November whether to continue the county's 1% Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) and whether to give county leaders a new tool to provide property tax relief for homeowners. The Effingham County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved both referendum resolutions July 28, along with an intergovernmental agreement with Guyton, Rincon and Springfield required to place the proposed six-year SPLOST on the ballot. County Manager Tim Callanan said the special meeting was scheduled because officials wanted to avoid missing the legal deadline to advertise the referendum. "In order to get any item on a referendum for this November, we have to meet a certain posting date," Callanan said. "There was some confusion as to whether 90 days prior to the election was Aug. 4 or 5. On an abundance of caution, we're proceeding as if it's the earlier date." Callanan said the county coordinated special meetings with all three municipalities so the required intergovernmental agreement could be approved before the deadline. If approved by voters, the SPLOST would continue the county's existing 1% sales tax for another six years. "It is the existing SPLOST that we're doing now," Callanan said. "We're continuing it for another six years with a new list of projects associated with it." Callanan emphasized the referendum would not create a new tax. Instead, it would replace the current SPLOST, which is expected to reach its $80…
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