Originally published in Savannah Now
The City of Springfield would spend a big chunk of $3.8 million in new penny-per-dollar sales tax on developing the City Hall property into a community venue.
At a specially called meeting on Thursday, council members unanimously agreed to spend 59 percent of the money that would be raised in a new, five-year round of Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) on city buildings.
Voters will decide whether to approve another round of SPLOST on Nov. 8.
City Manager Brett Bennett said the new venue would be an indoor-outdoor multi-use event space, for receptions, business meetings, weddings, wedding receptions, chamber functions, corporate meetings and educational events.
The city has hired Hansen Architects of Savannah to create a master plan for developing the City Hall property, which is adjacent to the Mars Theatre.
City Hall’s offices would have to move to another, as-yet-undetermined location, Bennett said.
The sales tax money also would be used to expand the back stage area of the theater, he said.
The list of priorities also includes 20 percent for street drainage, and 7 percent each for water and sewer projects, parks and recreation and public safety.
Bennett said the current round of SPLOST, which continues through summer of 2017, has paid for streetscaping, Ulmer Park redevelopment and water and sewer work.
He also said current SPLOST money also has been used to buy new police cars, a use that would continue in a new round of sales tax money.
Originally published on April 25, 2016.
Originally published in Savannah Now
