Forsyth County Holds 10 Public Meetings to Shape Proposed SPLOST

Ten public input meetings were held across Forsyth County through Jan. 21, 2026, giving residents multiple chances to shape how a proposed continuation of the county’s SPLOST sales tax would be spent. The meetings are part of a county-led effort to solicit priorities before officials formulate specific project lists that could appear on a future referendum.

SPLOST stands for Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, a one percent, voter-approved sales and use tax used in Forsyth County for specified capital programs and named projects for periods of up to six years. Forsyth County first won voter approval for SPLOST in 1987 and voters have approved six subsequent referendums to continue the program. The county emphasizes that the tax is earmarked for capital improvements rather than ongoing operating expenses.

Residents attending the district meetings were asked to identify project priorities and to indicate which types of capital investments matter most to their neighborhoods. Forsyth County has summarized past SPLOST expenditures to illustrate the program’s local impacts: roads, bridges and sidewalks; fire engines and fire stations; parks and land acquisition; libraries; courthouse and jail construction; and an animal shelter, among other projects. Those historical allocations are central to the current conversation about whether and how to continue the penny sales tax.

For residents who could not attend in person, Forsyth County directed input to an online ArcGIS feedback tool to collect suggestions and map priorities. That digital option expands access for people who work during meeting times or who prefer to submit detailed project ideas electronically. County officials will compile in-person and online input as they weigh potential project lists and timelines.

Policy choices made now will affect transportation planning, public safety readiness, recreation and cultural facilities, and county-owned infrastructure for years. A continuation of SPLOST would lock in a one percent local sales tax for a set term and would require voter approval under the existing SPLOST framework. Decisions about whether to target funding toward maintenance and repair, new facilities, land conservation, or public safety equipment will shape budget pressures for operating funds and future capital needs.

The public meetings represent the opening phase of a voter-driven process that has governed major county projects for nearly four decades. Forsyth County officials will use the collected input to prepare options for formal consideration and for eventual presentation to voters. Residents who participated or who use the ArcGIS feedback tool have directly influenced which projects may compete for funding under the next potential SPLOST cycle.