October 14-- Last month the former chairman of the Toombs County commission asked for an accounting of how special purpose local option sales tax money had been spent by the county. Since them, James Thompson, who is running for reelection next year, has received documents from the commissioners showing that some $600,000 has been spent for the county's general operating expenses. Sales tax money is earmarked for special projects like roads and bridges, however, commission chairman James Rustin says it's legal for commissioners to borrow from the sales tax account as long as the account is replenished from the general fund before the end of the year. And he told Mr. Thompson at Tuesday's county commission meeting the same practice occurred during the Thompson administration. Rustin says the county will replace the money with funds generated by the county landfill or with property tax collections. Meanwhile, Thompson filed another request for information regarding the sale of county surplus equipment. County clerk Beth Taylor responded to his request within hours and informed him that no sale of surplus equipment has occurred during the last 12 months.

In other actions, the commissioners are using nearly $687,000 in SPLOST funds to resurface just over 17 miles of county roads. Sikes Brothers of Metter submitted the apparent low bid.