CAIRO — The Grady County Board of Commissioners and three Cairo City Council members came to a tentative agreement on how to split the proposed 2008 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) proceeds during a called meeting on Tuesday.

“It’s a great deal to get sales tax money for special projects,” said Rusty Moye, county administrator, Wednesday. “Also, it’s a good way to obtain revenues necessary to maintain the county roads and bridges.”

Projected SPLOST funds will be distributed as follows: $325,000, Whigham; $4,680,000, Cairo; and $7,320,000, Grady County.

The Grady County Board of Commissioners’ suggested a six-year, $12 million SPLOST and distribution amounts for special projects were figured using that proposal.

The city of Whigham was not asked to contribute funds to special projects this time because it asked for a $75,000 increase for its own projects. Therefore, the county and city of Cairo split funding special projects at 61 percent county/39 percent Cairo.

Special interest groups up for SPLOST funds are: Grady General Hospital Authority ($1,500,000), Roddenbery Memorial Library ($120,000), the Grady County Aquatic Center ($900,000), Grady County Volunteer Fire Department ($250,000 — only the county funds this group), the Grady County Historical Society ($200,000) and the City of Whigham ($325,000).

City of Cairo Mayor Richard VanLandingham brought up outside funding because the council had suggested in its proposed distribution chart that agencies fund a required amount for their own projects.

Commissioner Bobby Burns said he disagreed with required self-funding.

“I don’t see asking those agencies to go beyond what they are paying in taxes for special interest projects,” he said. “They should be fully funded through tax dollars and supported. I don’t have a problem with voluntary funding but I don’t think it should be required.”

Moye said that enough money must be included in the SPLOST distribution to complete each project as described in general terms on the ballot, without outside funds or promise of raising outside funds.

The proposed aquatic center garnered the biggest discussion.

Issues brought up concerning the pool included: if the proposed pool was “the right pool” for the area; when the pool would be open; if there would be enough funds to finish the construction; and, if not, how would it be funded.

Commission Chairman Al Ball suggested possibly renovating and upgrading the current Holder Park pool instead of building a new one. Ball said he had not heard a convincing argument for the pool and did not agree to using SPLOST funds for the project.

“I’m not sure that this pool is something we really need and it could be wasting taxpayers’ dollars,” he said.

John Brannon, an advocate for the pool who has been attending various government meetings to inform entities of the project, told those present that it would be an eight lane, competitive swimming pool, include some amenities and cost an estimated $850,000 (if done today).