The Operations Committee voted to approve a revised resolution creating a SPLOST review committee (agenda item 250538) intended to replace the previous citizens oversight committee for SPLOST 2.

County Attorney Terry Phillips and other attorneys provided a redline comparison of the currently proposed resolution and the earlier version; the clean draft under consideration carried a date of 03/19/2025. Phillips emphasized legal limits tied to the public referendum: “we cannot change what was in the referendum. Those categories are locked and the county is bound to spend according to the categories that were passed by referendum.”

Several commissioners asked central staff to meet with neighborhood groups that had submitted an alternative resolution and to clarify the committee’s role. Commissioners debated whether the body should be called an “oversight” committee or a “review” committee; some argued the term oversight better reflects resident expectations to monitor projects and offer policy guidance, while others supported clarifying and narrowing the committee’s authorities. Central staff prepared a memo analyzing proposed resident language and recommended changes; commissioners asked staff and county attorneys to incorporate suggestions where appropriate.

After discussion, a motion to approve the submitted resolution passed in committee. Commissioners said they expect appointments and additional procedural details to follow; staff noted spending categories authorized by referendum remain binding and any operational clarifications must comply with those limits.