Demorest puts police cars and fire trucks atop proposed $2.46M SPLOST VIII list

Demorest City Council unanimously approved a potential $2,456,309 SPLOST VIII project list on July 17, 2025, putting $511,000 for police vehicles and $700,000 for two Fire Department trucks at the front of a proposed public-safety allocation. The 4-0 vote formally advanced the city’s proposed request in Habersham County’s sales-tax process; it did not establish that money has been received or that any vehicles have been ordered.

The list would direct a large share of the proposed sales-tax proceeds toward equipment and facilities tied to emergency response, while also setting out possible investments in streets, parks, City Hall and utilities. For residents, the decision could shape future spending on core city services, but the council action was an approval of a potential project list rather than a completed spending commitment.

City officials first outlined the proposal July 1, estimating a $2,456,216 total and identifying $700,000 for two fire trucks and $511,000 for seven police vehicles. Council asked to place the matter on its July 10 and July 17 agendas. At the July 10 discussion, members considered a potential $2,456,309 list, including $1,211,309 for public-safety facilities, equipment and vehicles, then scheduled further discussion. The July 17 agenda put a SPLOST VIII resolution up for consideration before the council adopted the list.

The council’s recorded action showed no dissent: members approved the potential list 4-0. City officials presented public safety as the largest category, with $1,211,309 proposed for facilities, equipment and vehicles. The remaining proposed amounts were $250,000 for roads, streets, bridges and sidewalks; $200,000 for parks; $200,000 for City Hall; and $595,000 for public utilities. The minutes do not record competing public positions or a debate over those priorities.

What the council completed was approval of its resolution and potential project list. The police vehicles, fire trucks and other listed work remain proposals: the record does not show that Demorest received SPLOST proceeds, signed an intergovernmental agreement, awarded contracts, purchased equipment or begun construction. There is also a small discrepancy in the city’s own figures: the July 1 minutes estimated $2,456,216, while the July 10 and July 17 records list $2,456,309.

The next concrete public step would be a city or county filing showing that a signed intergovernmental agreement and Demorest’s resolution were transmitted through Habersham County’s process. Even if that occurs, separate funding and implementation actions would still be needed to determine whether the city receives the full request, which projects move ahead, their final cost and when any vehicle purchases or construction could begin.