The business of selling a skeptical Augusta on the city’s new special purpose local option sales tax got underway Monday.

Augusta Commission members finalized approval of a $194 million tax package at a morning meeting. The package will be described in a referendum and bond issue going before voters May 20.

On Monday evening, Commissioner Donnie Smith had the floor at a meeting of the West Augusta Alliance, a conservative crowd vocal about the inclusion of money for private entities such as the Imperial Theatre.

“Has any SPLOST ever come out perfect? No,” Smith said, claiming that while special projects were included, $173 million from the package was intended for infrastructure.

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