The local option sales tax funding will go to Escambia County voters on Nov. 4 for renewal.

Escambia County Administrator Jack Brown pulled the item off of the Aug. 26 primary ballot to make sure the “wish list” of projects reflected an appropriate focus on drainage and other stormwater issues.

Historic flooding at the end of April put those needs in stark relief, though drainage projects have typically been a large portion of the local option sales tax projects.

The “Penny for Progress”, as it is dubbed, would extend for another 11 years the tax, carrying it through fiscal year 2027.

County spokeswoman Kathleen Dough-Castro said county staff is working to refine the project list with an emphasis on drainage projects that were on the list, as well as potential new projects.

By the end of this fiscal year, a total of $45.6 million from LOST III will have been spent on specifically on drainage projects, with $21.8 million of that amount allocated in (fiscal year 2013-2014), she said.

“Traditionally drainage and transportation projects have been included together since road projects often contain components related to drainage,” Dough-Castro said. “The total expenditures for transportation and drainage combined at the end of LOST III was projected at $216.5 million, although that number may increase as we move forward with repairs caused by the April flood.”

To prepare for that process, the county is seeking citizen input to help evaluate and prioritize the list.

Two public meetings to get resident input are coming up:

-- Sept. 15 at the Walnut Hill/Ruritan Community Center located at 7850 Highway 97 North at 5:30 p.m.

-- Sept. 22 at 6 p.m. at Ferry Pass Middle School, 8355 Yancy Lane.

Seven additional meetings are being scheduled throughout the county during October.

Or give your feedback online here.

Download the most recent list of local option sales tax projects here.

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