Walker County Voters to Decide on Renewal of SPLOST in November Election
Voters in Walker County will head to the polls on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, to provide a short answer to what amounts to a long and important question — whether to continue the county’s Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) for another cycle.
With the current SPLOST set to wind down in 2026, county officials are asking voters to approve the continuation of the existing one-percent sales tax, which funds a range of local improvements. The renewal would allow Walker County and its municipalities to maintain steady funding for road and bridge repairs, public safety upgrades, equipment replacement, and community development projects.
SPLOST has been a cornerstone of local infrastructure funding for decades. Since the 1980s, Walker County voters have approved the tax every time it has appeared on the ballot, helping cities like LaFayette, Chickamauga, and Rossville finance key improvements without relying solely on property taxes.
Advance voting for the SPLOST referendum and municipal elections will run from October 14 through October 31, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday voting will also be available on October 18 and 25, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Because municipal elections are being held simultaneously in Chickamauga, LaFayette, and Rossville, voters will have three locations available for early voting. Locations and sample ballots are expected to be released soon by the Walker County Elections Office.
If passed, the SPLOST renewal would ensure a continued stream of revenue for essential county and city projects — investments officials say are vital to keeping Walker County’s communities safe, connected, and prepared for the future.
Walker County Courthouse
103 S. Duke Street Rm.110
LaFayette, GA 30728
Chickamauga Civic Center
1817 Lee Clarkson Road
Chickamauga, GA 30707
Rossville Municipal Civic Center
400 McFarland Avenue
Rossville, GA 30741
Here are the projects that voters will be deciding:
| COUNTY PROJECTS | Estimated Cost |
| County Facilities and Vehicles | |
| Capital improvements to county facilities, including, but not limited to community centers and recreational facilities, as well as technology and equipment | $5,405,000 |
| Capital investment in county vehicles | $1,018,775 |
| Elections System Improvements | |
| Upgrade poll pads | $20,000 |
| Community Development | |
| Veteran’s Memorial Park | $100,000 |
| Facility upgrades and enhancements | $200,000 |
| Code Enforcement | |
| Vehicles and equipment | $225,000 |
| Shop | |
| Vehicles and equipment | $350,000 |
| EMA/E-911/IT | |
| Vehicles, equipment and upgrades, including, but not limited to, radio, phone, towers, and electronic equipment and systems. | $3,000,000 |
| Fire Rescue | |
| 5 Pumper Trucks | $3,375,000 |
| 4 QRV Trucks | $1,600,000 |
| Equipment for Apparatus | $500,000 |
| Fire Station repairs, renovations, upgrades, equipment, and property acquisitions, to include, but not limited to: Station 1 (New Build) Station 2 (Renovation) Station 6 (Renovation) Station 7 (Renovation) Station 15 (Renovation) Station 20 (Renovation) 107 Alex Drive -Parking lots and driveways 107 Alex Drive -(Renovation) 107 Alex Drive (6” water line and 2 hydrants) | $8,975,000 |
| Public Works | |
| Vehicles and equipment, including, but not limited to, trucks, mowing equipment, ROW maintenance equipment, and snow removal equipment | $4,000,000 |
| Infrastructure improvement, repair and replacement cost to include paving costs | $8,500,000 |
| Bridge replacement | $500,000 |
| Animal Services | |
| Equipment and upgrades and/or building acquisition | $500,000 |
| Solid Waste & Environmental Management | |
| Transfer Station and Landfill additions, improvements, vehicles, and equipment | $1,000,000 |
| Sheriff’s Office | |
| Repair, replacement, upgrades, and purchase of vehicles and equipment, including, but not limited to, body-worn and in-car cameras, firearms and accessories, and K9 units | $5,000,000 |
| Total County Projects | $44,268,775 |
| CITY OF CHICKAMAUGA PROJECTS | Estimated Cost |
| City Building Improvements | |
| Technology & Equipment Upgrades | $40,000 |
| Train Depot, Grist Mill, and City structures and buildings | $200,000 |
| Inventory warehouse | $150,000 |
| Covered parking for trucks | $65,000 |
| Covered transformer & pole pads | $50,000 |
| Fencing and automatic gates | $75,000 |
| Parks, Trails, Tourism & Recreation Infrastructure | |
| Playground, parks and/or dog parks | $115,000 |
| Picnic pavilion | $20,000 |
| Sidewalk fencing and construction | $75,000 |
| City sidewalks & walking trail development | $500,000 |
| CRA field lights, field, buildings & parking | $200,000 |
| CRA field improvements | $100,000 |
| Government Vehicles & Equipment | |
| Emergency radios and communications | $95,500 |
| General government vehicles including sanitation truck | $250,000 |
| Utility truck(s) replacement | $350,000 |
| Vehicles, equipment and machines | $250,000 |
| Library Improvements | |
| Computers, equipment and furniture | $75,000 |
| Building and/or parking improvement projects | $100,000 |
| Street, Right of Way and Signage Improvements | |
| Sidewalks, lighting, street and stormwater projects | $500,000 |
| Utilities and system improvements | $104,662 |
| Decorative poles & street signs | $50,000 |
| Utility system upgrades | |
| Utility software & pc upgrades | $50,000 |
| Tiered Economic Development Projects, which may include, but are not limited to, the following: | $2,000,000 |
| Water and sewer upgrades | |
| Stormwater improvements | |
| Electric underground installation | |
| Public parking & land acquisition | |
| Wireless internet expansion | |
| Sidewalk and street enhancements | |
| Alleyway restoration | |
| Commercial site revitalization and demolition | |
| Project design and planning | |
| Total Chickamauga Projects | $5,415,162 |
| CITY OF LAFAYETTE PROJECTS | Estimated Cost |
| Library | |
| Library improvements, equipment, and materials | $60,000 |
| Parks and Recreation | |
| Recreation and park facilities improvements and equipment | $3,500,000 |
| Water and Sewer | |
| Water and sewer infrastructure improvements and equipment | $1,900,000 |
| Transportation | |
| Roads, bridges, sidewalk, utility, and fleet improvements, including, but not limited to, the construction, repair, repaving, and restriping of roads, bridges, sidewalks, city-owned utilities, and the purchase of fleet vehicles | $1,002,372 |
| Walking and biking trails improvements and expansion | $225,000 |
| Train Depot improvements and equipment | $75,000 |
| Sidewalk Improvements connecting the High School to Main Street | $500,000 |
| Improvements to the Downtown District / Square | $500,000 |
| Villanow Street Corridor Improvements | $250,000 |
| Public Safety | |
| Public safety, including police and fire services vehicles, equipment and facilities improvements | $275,000 |
| Emergency Management | |
| Emergency Management and Hazard Mitigation system improvements and equipment, including, but not limited to, the purchase of generators | $165,000 |
| Electric and Broadband | |
| Smart grid technology improvements for electric and broadband systems | $400,000 |
| Total LaFayette Projects | $8,852,372 |
| CITY OF LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN PROJECTS | Estimated Cost |
| Public Safety Improvements | |
| Including, but not limited to, the acquisition of equipment and vehicles for the Police and Fire Department. | $170,000 |
| City Property Improvements | |
| Including, but not limited to, a note for Town Hall, improvement of Town Center Common Area, City Garden/Parks, and Joint Recreation ventures. | $1,125,000 |
| Public Works/Sewer Department Improvements | |
| Including, but not limited to, renovation of the Pump Station and acquisition of Public Works equipment, vehicles, signage, security gates. | $800,718 |
| General Administration Improvements | |
| Including, but not limited to, City Hall improvements and a storage facility. | $40,000 |
| Recreation Investments and Construction | |
| Including, but not limited to, land acquisition and construction of recreational fields/courts, gym, sidewalks and trails. | $2,000,000 |
| Total Lookout Mountain Projects | $4,135,718 |
| CITY OF ROSSVILLE PROJECTS | Estimated Cost |
| Public Safety Improvements | |
| Including, but not limited to, renovation of the public safety building, and the purchase of vehicles and equipment, including communication and emergency equipment, fire truck equipment, turnout gear, and breathing apparatus. | $878,183 |
| Public Works Improvements | |
| Including, but not limited to, the purchase of vehicles and equipment, including emergency generators and communication and emergency equipment, holiday lighting and decorations and associated electrical upgrades, and streetscaping projects. | $627,274 |
| Public Infrastructure Improvements | |
| Including, but not limited to, stormwater and sewer projects. | $1,881,821 |
| Public Facilities Improvements | |
| Including, but not limited to, renovations of city-owned buildings and the purchase of office equipment, technology, and software. | $815,456 |
| Rossville Library Improvements | |
| Including, but not limited to, the purchase of books and other media. | $94,091 |
| Recreation & Economic Development Improvements | |
| Including, but not limited to, streetscape projects, recreation facility renovations, storm shelters, pavilion, and beautification projects. | $1,975,911 |
| Total Rossville Projects | $6,272,736 |
| CITY OF FORT OGLETHORPE PROJECTS | Estimated Cost |
| Water and sewer infrastructure | $34,394 |
| Emergency response vehicles and equipment | $80,000 |
| Streetscaping and sidewalks | $100,000 |
| Total Fort Oglethorpe Projects | $214,394 |
| TOTAL ESTIMATED PROJECT COSTS | $69,000,000 |