Among the items confronting voters next Tuesday during the General Primary Election will be the referendum on the creation of a 10-year one-cent sales tax in Jackson and 11 other counties to fund transportation projects. Similar referenda are being conducted in other districts across Georgia.
T-SPLOST (Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) is the General Assembly’s new plan to fund transportation, from bike paths to light rail. If the local referendum passes — 50 percent plus one vote district-wide— the tax is expected to generate about $1 billion. Seventy-five percent of that money would be used to fund major transportation projects identified and approved by a district “roundtable” of elected officials. Hunter Bicknell, chairman of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners, chaired the local group, made up of counties comprising the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission.
The other 25 percent will be distributed among the cities and counties in the district according to a formula that considers population and road miles.
T-SPLOST: Are voters up for another one-cent sales tax?
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#1
Anonymous
on
07/29/12 at 02:23 AM
[Reply]
What people don't realize is we just voted and lost on the t-splost, Commerce is a very poor community and most people can not afford this. They also do not realize if this does not pass officials may have to take a cut in pay. (which no one wants the community to know.) But. since they are ignorant I am sure it will be pushed through just like last time. It will only make a difference when people wake up and say what the @#!! is going on.
#2
Sally
on
07/30/12 at 11:49 AM
[Reply]
There was not a "last time". Someone let me know if I am incorrect, but we haven't voted on a "T-Splost" in the past. Most can't afford 1% being added to purchases, I agree as I am one of them. However, the money is needed for transportation. Otherwise, there is a loss of business, jobs and community. If Georgia stops growing or actually goes backwards, our children and grandchildren will have to move out of state to find jobs. Corporations will not want to come to Georgia or remain in Georgia without quality roads to move their product. If we don't pass T-Splost and share it with everyone buying in Georgia, whether a resident or not, we will have to find the money elsewhere.....gas tax, property tax, etc. The difference is T-Splost allows you to know exactly how your money is spent and if you aren't happy with it, don't vote it back in when the time comes. Without this, if we do raise gas tax, property tax, etc you will not know how the money will be allocated or an "end" date for the tax - if ever.
