ALTO, Ga. — The Alto Town Council unanimously approved a proposed project list Thursday for the 2027 Banks County Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, clearing the way for the town to participate in a countywide referendum expected to go before voters later this year.
The council authorized Mayor Gail Armour to sign an intergovernmental agreement with Banks County after a discussion centered on proposed vehicle purchases, water infrastructure improvements and road paving projects.
Mayor Pro Tem Eddie Palmer said the project list must be submitted to Banks County by next week so county officials can prepare the intergovernmental agreement and the Banks County Board of Elections can move forward with placing the referendum on the ballot.
“If the IGA does not get drafted and signed, then no one gets any of the projected $24 million,” Palmer told the council, referring to the estimated countywide SPLOST collections.
Alto is one of only a handful of northeast Georgia municipalities that spans two counties, with portions of the town located in both Habersham and Banks counties. As a result, the town receives a share of SPLOST proceeds generated in Banks County. Earlier this month, the Baldwin City Council also reviewed its proposed Banks County SPLOST project list, which included major investments in water infrastructure.
Vehicle debate
Among Alto’s proposed projects are the purchase of two new police patrol vehicles, a new maintenance truck, water line upgrades on West Copeland Road and road paving projects in the Banks County portion of the town.
Palmer said replacing aging vehicles with new ones would provide longer service life and fewer maintenance issues than purchasing used equipment. He also said older patrol vehicles could later be reassigned to the town’s maintenance department.
Police Chief Sean Rogers urged the council to support two new patrol cars, arguing that aging vehicles create unnecessary risks for officers and the public.
“Our whole objective as a safety coordinator for the town is to reduce risk,” Rogers said. “When we’re running old cars, we’re increasing risk.”
Rogers said one of the department’s patrol cars has the equivalent of about 240,000 miles of service and that while the vehicles may still look good cosmetically, many of their components are worn from years of use. He also advocated purchasing a new maintenance truck, saying a factory warranty would likely save the town money over the long term by avoiding costly repairs associated with older vehicles.
Councilman Allen Fox, who participated remotely by Zoom, agreed the town should purchase two new police vehicles but questioned whether a brand-new maintenance truck was necessary. He said buying a newer used truck could reduce depreciation while still replacing the aging fleet.
“I’m ready to vote to approve the purchase of at least one new truck and both police cars,” Fox said. “The work truck thing to me still sounds preposterous that we need a zero-mile new work truck.”
Fox later asked Chief Financial Officer Lisa Turner whether the dollar amounts included in the SPLOST project list authorized the purchase of specific vehicles or were simply planning estimates.
Turner said the figures represented the town’s best estimates based on national fleet pricing and information provided by the police department.
After receiving that clarification, Fox made the motion authorizing the mayor to sign the intergovernmental agreement with Banks County. The motion passed unanimously.
In addition to vehicle purchases, Palmer said Alto is proposing approximately $400,000 in water line improvements along West Copeland Road to accommodate future fire hydrants and improve system reliability. He also said the town plans to use previously approved Banks County SPLOST funds to pave roads within the Banks County portion of Alto.
Budget amendment approved
The council also unanimously approved a final amendment to Alto’s 2025 budget.
Turner said the amendment incorporates the final audited financial figures, reclassifies certain expenditures as capital projects and closes out portions of construction in progress.
She said after the meeting that the amendment reflects the town’s final year-end numbers following an earlier budget amendment and is required before the annual audit can be completed.
Turner said the amended budget will be submitted to the auditors Friday as part of the final steps in completing Alto’s 2025 audit.
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