The fierce battle between advocates and opponents of the TSPLOST has come to an end. The transportation sales tax has unofficially failed in all 10 metro Atlanta counties including Cobb, by 167,207 votes—a 26% margin, with 248,319 (37%) voted yes, and 415,526, (63%) voted no.
Cobb voters soundly rejected the referendum with 85,412 (69%) voted against it, and 38,703 (31%) voted in favor, out of the 124,115 votes cast on Tuesday. The 153 precincts didn't complete final reporting until around 4 a.m. Wednesday.
Voters in 12 regions across Georgia were asked to decide on the measure that has potential to generate more than $18 billion for transportation projects across the state over the next decade.
Supporters of the TSPLOST continued to campaign across the region until the final minutes of the Tuesday primary. and are both among the advocates, and said that passing the referendum would create jobs and improve congestion in the area. They also argue that the failure of the tax's passage would cause long-term economic damage to the region.
Opponents of the tax, including and Patch Blogger , suggest that the current TSPLOST package fails to address the real transportation problems in the metro Atlanta region and would only help bring in revenue and short-term jobs.
Here's how Cobb and other metro Atlanta counties voted:
COUNTY YESNOTOTAL Cherokee 9,105 (21%)35,280 (79%)
44,385 Clayton 16,750 (46%)
19,303 (54%)
36,053 Cobb 38,703 (31%)
85,412 (69%)
124,115 DeKalb 57,915 (48%)
61,792 (52%)
119,707 Douglas 6,383 (32%)
13,534 (68%)
19,917 Fayette 6,677 (24%)
21,712 (76%)
28,389 Fulton 69,064 (49%)
72,365 (51%)
141,429
Gwinnett 28,884 (29%)
70,273 (71%)
99,157 Henry 9,405 (29%)
23,371 (71%)
32,776 Rockdale 5,433 (30%)
12,484 (70%)
17,917
Total:
248,319 (37%)
415,526 (63%)
663,845
*Unofficial results from the Cobb County Board of Elections & Registration as of 4 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1.
How did you vote on the TSPLOST? Are you happy with the results? Tell us in the comments!
The regional transportation sales tax was the one issue that brought many people to the polls across metro Atlanta on Tuesday.
Marjorie Towerie, who voted Tuesday morning at Addison Elementary, said she voted against the TSPLOST because she was told "it was a con and that it wouldn't really help."
A Smyrna voter who preferred to remain anonymous said: "It's not the right time, especially for Cobb. I just don't think we'll get enough for the money."
“I pay enough taxes and I’m not going to pay any more,” said Stephanie, a Mableton resident.
if the 1-cent regional Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax had been approved Tuesday by the majority of voters in the 10-county metro Atlanta region. Residents would be paying the tax for either 10 years or until the expected $8.5 billion in revenues has been collected, whichever comes first.
were listed on either the 85 percent list, which were developed and approved by the Regional Roundtable; or the 15 percent list that included local projects. Each of Cobb County's four commissioners were allotted $34.69 million to give to projects in their districts.
What's so "special" about SPLOST when there is a continuing stream of taxes? As has been said before, it's not "a penny" when the school board gets one and the county gets one and then the region wants another. Listen to the voters!
Anybody who believes that government is the answer to their problems is naive and gullible.This so-called 10 year tax would have been like the GA-400 tax. Remember that one? It was only going to be around until 400 was paid for ... and how many decades ago was that? Yet the tax is still around. Way to go my fellow citizens!!! I'm proud to be a Georgian today.
Georgia won last night, thanks to everyone who stuck together and got rid of that tax! It was a great victory for every tax paying citizen!
As indicated by the Comments, there are a lot of differing views on why folks opposed the referendum. The "trust" factor being one of the most important. As indicted by the table in your piece, one size does not fit all. Clearly, Clayton, Dekalb and Fulton counties may benefit from some form of regional plan. But the other counties in the "Atlanta Region" are best if left to their own actions. If a few counties want to collaborate to share some major projects, let them do it. One can easily envision Cobb teaming-up with Douglas, Paulding and Cherokee to improve some interchanges to improve traffic flow. But it makes no sense for Cobb to be involved in funding projects in downtown Atlanta. Within Cobb, the needs are different in different areas. Certainly, SW Cobb has different needs than NE Cobb. The TSPLOST project list did very little for either. Good job on getting the vote out!
"They can't or won't account for millions of dollars that're mssing. And projects aren't done. Where's the money" The millions of dollars in question are gone, it didn't evaporate and it didn't hide itself,,,,, it was either misplaced, wasted or stolen. Now you'd like to hold someone accountable,,,,,, No?
Normally we would only have 1 or 2 NP voters in ANY Precinct I've worked, yesterday was abnormal. SB
D. Lehman
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2012/08/01/other-states-interested-in-t-splost.html?ana=e_du_pap&s=article_du&ed=2012-08-01
The good news is that the local governments that voted against it will now have to match state spending 30% versus 10%. That means that, perhaps, the state will need to worry about funding the projects with a local match of 30%. That may leave more for projects that local governments really need.
I was at DDS to renew my license, in line for 2.5 hours, and just wonder why it has to be handled that way. Sometimes time was wasted just waiting for someone who had left the building to not show up to one of the counters when their number was called. There's gotta be a more efficient way where more people are handled with less employees. I was wondering what would happen if people went to kiosks first, which were in line, to key in their information. Then the system could more efficiently route people through whatever processes they have and be ready for the people before they even come up to the desk. In fact, imagine doing everything online and even getting your time ticket online and being told by email or with automated call 30 minutes in advance of your number being called. I think if all of you are complaining about a new tax, you should instead complain about the fact that government processes run like the stone-age, or 100 years ago, whichever came last. Obama signed an executive order to better computerize government. Get behind it to save us money.
I count four through lanes on Roswell Rd, two turn lanes going onto Sewell Mill Rd, three turn lanes coming off. That's nine already. Then, there's another road coming off into a small condo/townhome subdivision, so more lights are needed for that. I don't figure how six would cover it. Privatizing is the answer for people that don't know what they are talking about. We de-regulated banks further, and look where it got us. When you privatize what's meant for the good of the people, it becomes for the good of the biggest shareholders, and becomes "scr** the people".
Yet one of the most incredible decisions I've seen in many years was to create User Fees for our State Parks. Really....I mean REALLY......the State Parks belong to the People. They were either purchased by taxpayers money or donated, yet we have to pay to visit our collective property. REALLY ???