Politics & Government
Opponents Organize to Defeat $200 Million SPLOST
Tea Party Founder Steve Voshall says commissioners are "trying to pull a Pelosi," asking voters to pass a $200 million tax on themselves without knowing what is in it.
Led by Founder Steve Voshall, citizen groups across Forsyth County are organizing to defeat the $200 million special purpose local option sales tax referendum that will be on the ballot November 8.
Voshall said Thursday that county commissioners are "trying to pull a Pelosi," comparing their attempt to pass SPLOST VII to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's attempt to pass President Barrack Obama's health care bill.
"They're saying, give us $200 million of your money and then we'll tell you how we're going to spend it," Voshall said. "It doesn't work that way."
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Voshall, who heads one of the largest Tea Party groups in north Georgia, said, "My biggest objection to SPLOST is the $50-$60 million they plan to spend to build a new courthouse when they haven't even looked at what it would cost to expand it instead. From everything I've heard and discussions I've had, they could renovate the current courthouse and add the new courtrooms on to the back of it for $15 million."
He said he has spoken to leaders of other citizen organizations in the county, including Founder Brad Wilkins and Tony DeMaria of Forsyth Citizens for Responsible Growth who say they will join in the fight to defeat the tax.
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Voshall said Tea Party members are dismayed by the lack of research that has gone into asking citizens to approve the $200 million tax.
"They haven't done an architectural study. They haven't done an engineering study. They haven't held any community meetings to inform the public about the details and they're holding a special election to try and sneak this in the back door. It should be done next year during the presidential election when more voters will be going to the polls."
SPLOST VI will not expire until June 2013 but if SPLOST VII is approved, it would extend collections through 2019. In addition to the jail and courthouse, the county plans to spend $70 million for transportation improvements, $3.9 million to replace fire engines, $3 million for an animal shelter and $7 million for park and recreation projects.
County commissioners approved a tax increase last year. and voters approved an this spring. Next year, legislators will ask voters to approve a regional transportation tax.
Editor's Note: This article first appeared on Cumming Patch on Sept. 20, 2011.
