RINGGOLD, Ga. — Before Catoosa commissioners can vote on the final list of special purpose local option sales tax projects, city councils in Ringgold and Fort Oglethorpe must approve an intergovernmental agreement on the tax, officials said.

So county commissioners took the item off their agenda Tuesday until after the councils meet Monday.

The proposed referendum for a 1 percent sales tax to fund $56 million in special purpose projects is to go before the voters in a Sept. 16 special election.

The Catoosa Utility District board has signed the intergovernmental agreement. The Utility District is slated for $4 million in funds from the tax.

SPLOST funds must, by law, be used for capital projects and for salaries or operating expenses. The next tax cycle will start in July 2009 and last for five years, if it is approved by voters.

Fort Oglethorpe Councilman Steve Brandon said last week he will oppose passage of the sales tax and will recommend other city residents vote “no.” He said Fort Oglethorpe does not get a fair share of revenue.

The current five-year SPLOST cycle, after 45 months, is running at 104.6 percent of the projected $44 million in revenue, County Finance Officer Carl Henson said.

In other business Tuesday, commissionersy approved group health care and dental coverage for county employees at a combined county and employee annual premium of $3.28 million.

Mr. Henson said that is up from $2.94 million for the current year’s coverage. He said medical insurance premiums with United Health Care increased 12 percent and dental insurance rose by 7.4 percent.

“Employees pay 14.1 percent of the premiums with the county covering the balance,” he said.

In another area, County Manager Mike Helton said county government departments are responding to his request to identify ways or areas to reduce fuel consumption.

“One department used 298 fewer gallons of fuel in May compared to April,” he said.