PDA to get loan for SPLOST projects

The Americus-Sumter County Payroll Development Authority voted unanimously Tuesday to loan Sumter County $3 million for municipal projects included in the 2007 SPLOST (special purpose local option sales tax).

County CAO Lynn Taylor, Commissioner Brent Williams and Bill NeSmith, county attorney, presented the request at the PDA's regular monthly session.

The financing request is for advance funding on certain municipal SPLOST projects including Rees Park School in Americus ($1,205,000), and projects in Andersonville ($134,000), DeSoto ($331,000), Leslie ($431,000), Plains ($250,932) and "emergency renovations" in the Sumter County Correctional Institute and the Sumter County Jail ($638,068).

T

he County asked that the PDA borrow the $3 million, to be repaid by the County in three payments on Dec. 31 in 2009, 2010 and 2011. The County actually guarantees the loan.

In other business, the PDA voted unanimously to approve a resolution to authorize a quit claim deed from the PDA to the current owner of the former Collins & Aikman property. PDA attorney Mike Fennessy read a letter from City attorney Jimmy Skipper who wants to close on the property sale but the $1 million bond issue first has to be cleared up. The original bond issue, dated July 1, 1997, matured July 1, 1997.

While the PDA authorized the resolution, it is contingent on Fennessey doing further research.