SPLOST Special Election Tuesday, March 15

Forsyth County voters head to the polls on Tuesday, March 15 to decide on whether or not to continue the one percent Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) for educational purposes.

Voters did have the opportunity to take part in early and advance voting, both ending last Friday.

So far 2,444 ballots were cast, according to Barbara Luth, Supervisor with Forsyth County Voter Registrations and Elections.

“That’s about two percent and for a special election that’s typical,” said Luth. “Hopefully tomorrow we’ll get some more interest. I’m hoping for over five percent total, maybe 10 (percent) if we’re lucky.”

SPLOST for Schools is an opportunity for Forsyth County voters to continue the current sales tax for another five-year period in order to make payments on the voter approved 2005 and 2007 bonds.

“It’s not a new tax,” added Luth.

Those 2005 and 2007 bonds were used to construct the addition at North Forsyth High School and nine new schools. Funds were also used for school improvements and updates, technology, transportation, safety and to purchase land for future school sites.

If approved, the current SPLOST would go into effect in July 2012 and allow for collections to continue without interruption for five years or when a projected maximum of $195 million is collected. Of that amount, $141 million is projected to go towards bond payments and another $54 million for capital improvements.

If it is not approved the Forsyth County School Board of Education will have to increase property taxes in order to make the bond payments.

Steve Voshall, founder of the Forsyth County Tea Party and president of Financial Benefit Group, Inc., told Cumming Patch it’s important to run a school system fiscally responsibly, without having to cut educational services while maintaining a quality system.

“The ultimate goal moving forward, and it won’t happen during this SPLOST, but is to get to the point where we don’t have the bond debt to start with--where we have to have a SPLOST to payoff the interest on the bonds,” he said.

Based on the comments and e-mails Voshall has received from Forsyth County tea party members, “Generally speaking they feel that a flat tax is more fair than raising the millage rate. But I think people are also tired of having a SPLOST continuously year after year after year,” added Voshall.

All voting precincts will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the SPLOST Special Election. Remember to bring one of the six acceptable forms of photo identification. Click here to verify your Election Day precinct.