Albany Mayor Dorothy Hubbard will host a public forum on May 12 to discuss the community impact that the voter-­‐approved Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) has had during the last 20 years.

The SPLOST forum, sponsored by the Mayor’s Coalition for Economic Development, will serve as an educational presentation on previous and current SPLOST projects, which are funded by an additional 1 percent local sales tax, and their benefit to the community. Attendants will learn how and why SPLOST funding is obtained and distributed while also gaining insight on how SPLOST-­‐funded projects are determined. Presenting panelists will be Dougherty County Administrator Richard Crowdis and Albany Assistant City Manager Wes Smith.

“The coalition’s forum series serves as a means of open dialogue between the decision makers and those for whom they make decisions – the citizens,” said Albany Mayor Dorothy Hubbard. “It is important to have this information exchange so the people know that we are following the referendum as passed.”

“This SPLOST forum will give our citizens a better understanding of how their tax dollars are being used and their impact on the community,” she said.

SPLOSTs are approved by voter referendum. During the last 20 years, Dougherty County voters have approved six SPLOST proposals, the most recent on Nov. 2, 2010.

The SPLOST forum is the fifth in a series organized by the Mayor’s Coalition for Economic Development, whose mission is to educate the public on economic development and is comprised of volunteer representatives.

The May 12 forum is free to the public and will be held 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. in room 100 of the Government Center, located at 222 Pine Ave. in Downtown Albany.

For more information, please call (229) 434-­‐0044 or visit Albany-­‐Dougherty Economic Development Commission at facebook.com/choosealbany.