Two views on T-SPLOST
Moderated by Tom Sabulis
The transportation sales tax referendum comes up for a vote July 31. Today’s commentators agree that MARTA and its customers are being treated unfairly, but then part ways. One slams the proposal for not engaging the African-American community. The other says the economic boon resulting from $6.14 billion in transportation improvements is too good to pass up.
Fairness, inclusion lacking in T-SPLOST
By Vincent Fort
The T-SPLOST does not pass the fairness test. Residents in Atlanta and Fulton and DeKalb counties already pay a 1 percent transportation tax — the MARTA sales tax. If the T-SPLOST passes, Atlanta, Fulton and DeKalb residents will incur an increase from 1 percent to 2 percent. In effect, they will be double taxed. Outlying counties will pay only 1 percent. Atlantans will see their sales tax go from 8 percent to 9 percent, an increase of 12.5 percent. That rate is one of the highest in the country. That’s not fair.
Sales taxes are regressive. Billionaires pay the same rate as middle-class families, senior citizens on fixed incomes and the poor. The T-SPLOST will be applied to groceries and medicine. At the same time, lobbyists for big corporations got an exemption for motor fuel when the T-SPLOST legislation was being considered under the Gold Dome. So trucking firms and corporations with large vehicle fleets whose trucks cause a disproportionate amount of damage to the roads will not pay into the T-SPLOST pot. All of this for a plan that will save only 2.5 minutes on the average round-trip commute. That’s not fair.
The project list has a monumental flaw. While the Emory University area gets a rail line, south DeKalb, after 40 years of paying the MARTA 1 percent tax and fighting for a rail line, is getting a bus line. That’s not fair.
MARTA cannot use any of the T-SPLOST money it receives for operations. MARTA’s budget deficit is in operations. No other transit agency in the state functions under such an onerous restriction. In addition, MARTA’s T-SPLOST money will be funneled through the state of Georgia — an ominous arrangement for a government with a history of directing money away from its intended use. That’s not fair.
If this T-SPLOST passes, African-American businesses will continue to be left out in the cold. A recent study commissioned by the Georgia Department of Transportation itself showed that African-American companies receive only 2.4 percent of GDOT’s federally funded contracts. Even worse, African-American companies receive only 1.1 percent of state-funded contracts. The study indicates that if all things were equal, African-American businesses would receive 22 percent of GDOT’s contracts. Eighty-five percent of the T-SPLOST revenues will go to the state of Georgia and GDOT. GDOT cannot be trusted to do the right thing by African-American companies. That’s not fair.
A look at the history of the defeat of the first MARTA referendum is instructive. That first MARTA referendum failed in 1968 after the African-American community was excluded from the process. After that, the civil rights community and African-American leaders were brought to the table and negotiated items for inclusion. As a result, a minority business and hiring program was implemented, a 15-cent fare was adopted and the Bankhead station was included. Therefore, the next time the MARTA referendum was on the ballot, it passed.
The July 31 T-SPLOST should be defeated, and fairness and inclusion should be made a part of the process.
Vincent Fort is a state senator representing the 39th District.
‘Yes’ vote is necessary transportation triage
By Stacey Abrams
Next Tuesday, I will walk into my precinct in East Atlanta and vote “yes” on the metro Atlanta T-SPLOST. This choice will be in sharp contrast to the last time I voted on this issue.
On March 25, 2010, I voted “nay” on HB 277, the Georgia 2020 Transportation Act. After a hectic day of reviewing the legislation and arguing against its treatment of the state’s major public transit system, I joined dozens of my colleagues in opposing a bill that failed to address our key demands. That is the role of a state representative — to speak for the people he or she represents.
In South DeKalb and parts of Atlanta, which comprises a significant portion of my district, MARTA had stagnated and suffered cuts during its decades of service, starved by an inchoate and draconian financing scheme that holds the region hostage to a bygone era of prejudices. When HB 277 refused to fix what the Legislature had broken, I said “no.”
However, as a resident, I owe my region and my state a “yes” vote July 31. This is a generational choice that will set the course for our economic and environmental futures. Opponents of the T-SPLOST are not wrong in their concerns: This is a tax increase on those who have funded MARTA for 30 years without receiving a rail line. The T-SPLOST does not adequately fund public transit, which is critical if we are to be a livable community well into the 21st century. And it is unclear which projects will receive priority status in the spending.
But for every flaw in the T-SPLOST, on balance, this referendum is vital to our communities. Through the quiet, hard work of county leaders, Gov. Nathan Deal and key CEOs, important progress has been made. Workforce development initiatives will help secure training and jobs throughout the region as these projects come online. Small businesses will have a chance to bid on procurement projects that can transform their futures much as Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport did in the ’70s and ’80s. Billions of dollars will flow through our network of cities and counties and towns, binding us together more tightly through commerce and transit.
From the small corner deli on Memorial Drive to the aggregate producer in Rockdale County, the transportation projects funded will transform our region. The issue of funding public transit will not be solved with a single referendum or tax; it must instead be woven into how we think about transportation overall. The T-SPLOST is not a cure for our transportation woes, but it is the triage we need if we are to survive as a region.
My role as House minority Leader requires a difficult threading of politics. My job is to help guide our caucus by collaborating where we can and competing where we should. I understand those who will continue to demand answers of the T-SPLOST and its outcomes. They are essential to the process of government and to being good stewards of the people’s money.
However, if we are to have a prayer of moving our region forward, we must begin with a leap of faith. Vote “yes” July 31.
Stacey Abrams is House minority leader and represents the 84th District.
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43 comments Add your comment
ga Values
July 24th, 2012
9:17 am
$600,000,000.00 of payoffs to the rich politically connected at the Beltline with NO reduction in congestion. VOTE NO FOR THIS TAXPAYER RIPOFF & get a better project lins in 2 years
Ga Values
July 24th, 2012
9:18 am
$600,000,000.00 of payoffs to the rich politically connected at the Beltline with NO reduction in congestion. VOTE NO FOR THIS TAXPAYER RIPOFF & get better projects that actually reduce congestion in 2 years
WeNeedAlternatives
July 24th, 2012
9:21 am
I’ve got some prime swampland and bridge real estate for sale to anyone who truly believes there would be a ‘better’ project list in 2 years, or 3 years, or 4 years…..
Building tons of roads won’t relieve congestion either – so says those pesky transportation planning experts. But what do they know?
Your morning jolt: State's share of Georgia school costs down to 38 percent | Political Insider
July 24th, 2012
10:01 am
[...] – House Democratic Leader Stacey Abrams, who voted against putting the TSPLOST on the ballot three years ago, reluctantly endorses the effort today in an AJC op-ed. [...]
Angus
July 24th, 2012
10:25 am
Not sure if I can bring myself to vote ‘yes,’ but will say that I trust Stacey Abrams more than any other metro legislator. I’ll consider her opinion further than most others.
Frankie
July 24th, 2012
10:28 am
Why not just expand the emissions testing to the entire state of Georgia, since the entire state does come to Atlanta metro area at one time or another.
I can get a dollar out of that vs. a penny. maybe I am missing something….also the plans have to actually work I have lived in Atlanta for 18 years and the improvements continually make traffic worse..take for instance the merge lights on I-285 and other highways. Thye back traffic backup to the surface streets and caue se mor eaccidnets and problems there..
Frankie
July 24th, 2012
10:30 am
aren’t the transportation planning experts the ones who created the traffic mess we are facing right now….
So yo want me to give a gun to a murder and hope he doesn’t repeat the same thing again….
INSANITY….doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result…
CommonSense
July 24th, 2012
10:34 am
Vincent Fort’s main skill seems to be getting his biased views published in print media and on the TV and radio. Many of his constituents have voted against him in the past because of his lack of true representation, and this resident would be voting against him again if not for being redistricted into another district. I am shocked that he has found a way to oppose the T-SPLOST despite its huge amount of money going to MARTA and the Beltline. And he is not the Senator for South DeKalb county anyway, he should be concerned about his actual constituents here in Atlanta, East Point, and other areas on the westside.
Hopefully my new State Senator will be more concerned with the good of all people, and not just the good of the chosen few he chooses to represent.
SAWB
July 24th, 2012
10:35 am
I am not sure Vincent Fort is the right guy to be the face of the anti-TSPLOST movement. The guy is an opportunist and a tax cheat, so it makes it difficult to align with any cause he is involved with. Also, it really sounds like he is opposed to the current project because he wants more tax money to be wasted not less.
I really wish they would break this down by county and focus on local projects that actually impact the residents. I suspect many people look at the list and wonder why they should pay more tax for projects that just simply will have no direct impact on their lives.
Road Scholar
July 24th, 2012
10:42 am
Senator Fort: Just where is YOUR legislation to solve the MARTA funding issues? Until the state, under pressure from all the local governments in Atlanta, actually develops a long term strategy to expand and pay for transit, the MARTA tax will remain. When will you do your job? Admittedly your “sky is falling” style has hurt your standing in the legislature. Whine on!
As for the AA minority contractors , what is the % of work by other minority contractors (asian, women, etc.)? Regularly, DBE goals are set in excess of 5-10 % for all federal contracts. Could it be that the AA firms are not as good as the other DBE firms? They are all prequalified with GDOT; Being prequalified does not mean they do stellar work!
newkid
July 24th, 2012
10:45 am
Those elected officials (nominally ‘representatives’) who would, in the name of kicking the can down the road in the supposed interest of the next generation, ask us to ’settle’ for what is clearly geographical and income inequitey, ought to just shut-up, step off, and leave the representing to those who’ll do so on principle. Forty years is far too long to have employed band-aid approaches to fixing severed limbs. To aspire to a continuation of this is to aspire to retrogression. The next generation deserves far more than retrogression cloaked in a costume of progress and fitted with a catchy name like T-SPLOST.
Johns creek
July 24th, 2012
10:47 am
Vincent Fort wins this debate. Stacy Abrams sounds like someone with a gun being held to their head. Threats of something worse should not be a reason to vote for the TSPLOST. As a Fulton county resident I have not heard a valid reason why I should pay twice what a citizen of Gwinnett or Cobb will pay for the same benefits. The entire region benefits from MARTA and should pay the same transportation tax. Cobb county is planning to take advantage of MARTA by feeding its commuters into it, but yet Cobb will not pay a share.
bigbill
July 24th, 2012
11:54 am
Thank you Senator Fort for raising issues of fairness and inclusion that all people of good will in Atlanta care about and embrace. When those who have passionately and consistently opposed any tax increases of any kind whatsoever no matter how much they are needed or how much good they may accomplish, now undertake to promote and support a local sales tax increase that imposes a disproportionate burden on the poor and working class people, that exempts powerful business interests from it’s coverage, and that directly provides huge financial benefits to these same powerful business interests, those who care about justice and fairness are right to oppose it.
Laurie
July 24th, 2012
12:03 pm
Ga gives away tax concessions to big business in return for political contributions, then look to the individual tax payor to make up the difference. Vote NO for T-SPLOST. There are better ways to pay for GDOT projects, by eliminating tax breaks for corporations, adding infrastructure taxes to new development projects, through gas taxes, vehicle ad valorem tax, emissions testing, etc…
TheNew Minority
July 24th, 2012
12:14 pm
So, if part of the issue is minority contractors and business inclusion, I propose this. Most of this city’s govt offices are run by minorities. Go into any courthouse, Tax office, DMV, etc, I see mostly quota workers. And look where it gets us in terms of speed and efficiency. To Hell with forced minority inclusion. If your proposal doesn’t get accepted, maybe it’s because it sucks.
yuzeyurbrane
July 24th, 2012
12:33 pm
sorry, Stephanie, can’t vote for billions on “leap of faith”.
SAWB
July 24th, 2012
12:41 pm
I agree with Vinnie Fort and say we let Atlanta collect taxes from their citizens anyway they wish. Then they can hire whoever they wish to build whatever it is they want. There is absolutely no reason to involve people outside of Atlanta in the City’s business and of course that includes not burdening them with our tax money.
Speed Racer
July 24th, 2012
1:12 pm
If $8 billion will solve our transportation problems for the next ever how many years then I say, “Great! Let’s spend it.” But, I say find that $8 billion in our existing budget by making cuts where we are overspending or providing services that do not serve as many people as roads do.
MariettaCAC
July 24th, 2012
1:43 pm
There are many reasons you can find to be against the T-SPLOST … yes, paying more taxes isn’t fun, yes, there are projects on the list that may not benefit you personally, yes, life is not fair and the T-SPLOST isn’t going to fix that, yes, there is waste and misused money in government. But so what … we need some road improvements.
Count me as a “YES” on T-SPLOST
Rich Steiner
July 24th, 2012
2:01 pm
With all due respect to the first writer, residents of some of the other countries are also being double-taxed by this bill for transportation projects. Cobb County, for example, has done its own TSPLOSTs for years, and there is currently one active which has provided some very useful projects. The 1% tax for this new regional TSPLOST would come on top of the 1% Cobb already has for its own initiative. Not that much different from what Fulton and Dakalb will be doing, really.
ED
July 24th, 2012
2:46 pm
Street Cars to NO WHERE. Countless committees, political appointees, political graft, and now a call to put quotas on how the money is paid out. GREAT!!!!!!! I have lived in metro Atlanta since 1985. We all know the congested areas that need to be fixed. I-285 & Ga-400 – will be fixed when????? How about 2020. Needed to be fixed in 1990 at least. Holcomb Bridge Rd at Ga-400 has needed to be fixed since 1985. May be fixed in 20 years. But wait it gets better….
Now they are going to use the money to study bringing MARTA to Roswell. The same MARTA that you have to cahnge trains after 7 pm to head to Roswell. The same MARTA that you now have to wait for a shuttle bus at the airport if your flying international. The same MARTA that can’t control the cell phones they pay for… The same MARTA that Fulton county has paid for since the 70’s and is still run incompetently and as a “make work” agency.
Also remember folks, these are the same transportation experts who wants to put a new train station next to the GEORGIA DOME. My that’s convenient. You can’t even get there for a basketball game because the City of Atlanta’s traffic control is nonexsistent to totally incompetent.
This is just $8 billion dollars more for the political class to play with. I guarantee less than $.30 cents on the dollar will go to actual projects. The rest will be “studies” which equals graft.
VOTE NO FOR T-SPLOT on JULY 31st!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SAWB
July 24th, 2012
3:03 pm
Here is my concern.
If we vote no will the legislature just find another way to collect the money? If they do will that mechanism be as fair as a sales tax? I fear we might see an increase in property tax or some other tax that not everyone pays. This may end up being another example of those who pay taxes subsidizing those who don’t.
NOtoTax
July 24th, 2012
3:34 pm
I agree with Laurie. Why don’t we increase the gas tax for the road improvements? Those driving the roads should pay for the improvements.
Also, we need to adjust the tax credits we give the large corporations. It hurts everyone, when they do not pay their fair share of taxes. They use the same roads we do, but do we get a tax credit? We pay taxes too…
SAWB
July 24th, 2012
3:47 pm
For me increasing the gas tax might make sense as long as the money was spent on road improvements and not MARTA, trolley cars, belt lines or other unrelated projects.
james
July 24th, 2012
3:59 pm
Vincent whoever said life was fair?
Stacy no more $$ for you and the other
legislators period. Get your spending under
control before we the tax payers give you
clowns another penny to waste. NO to T-SPLOST…
If I ran my household like the government runs
theirs I would be living in the streets…
newkid
July 24th, 2012
4:01 pm
SAWB: “If we vote no will the legislature just find another way to collect the money?”
My friend, the desire is for you to act out of fear rather than with the use of good information and logical reasoning. Let’s calm down and don’t let them see us sweat. Trust yourself to do the right thing on the 31st based upon your value system and a sense of what’s right and fair; not because you feel threatened by the potential knee-jerk reaction of those cats who sit in the Legislature. You do know that they’re replaceable, don’t you? We, on the other, are not.
Jimmy
July 24th, 2012
4:07 pm
Someone mentioned the corporations should not be exempt and should pay their fair share of tax. Well sorry, I hate to tell you this, but corporations do not pay taxes they only collect them for the government. Every time you buy a product, the tax the corporation pays is included in the cost of the product. Folks need to wake up. What we really need is the Fair Tax!
Your morning jolt: State’s share of Georgia school costs down to 38 percent
July 24th, 2012
4:34 pm
[...] – House Democratic Leader Stacey Abrams, who voted against putting the TSPLOST on the ballot three years ago, reluctantly endorses the effort today in an AJC op-ed. [...]
Bernie
July 24th, 2012
4:52 pm
Georgia’s Political leadership can NEVER BE trusted when comes to fairness and inclusion as Mr. Fort has so eleoquently stated. The historical record and all of the
on going decisions and plans reflects the truthfulness of his statements. When are we going to learn that we ALL are better off we we all succeed together.
Mr. Reed and his supporters are revealing that they are willing to be part of and continue the the same self serving mentality of administrations of years past. He and his supporters should be held accountable in future elections for their non action and support of Atlanta’s citizens needs and desires.
NO politicians potential rise in any political arena should be weighed over the needs of its citizens.
The investment into a Trolley system in downtown Atlanta is senseless and lacks wisdom and foresight for the growth of a city as huge as Atlanta, with so much of its
infrastructural system in such disrepair and disarray. Any Intelligent city planner can see that with their EYES CLOSED!
Mr. Reed and his cohorts should seriously not be considered for re-election under any circumstances for such a failure of Leadership of EPIC proportions.
Atlanta MUST and certainly deserve a much better caliber of LEADERSHIP!
Its time to put A stop to ALL of the WINDOW DRESSING………and get things done for the people of this community.
Bernie
July 24th, 2012
5:14 pm
A sign of real political Leadership is never made through political connections and back room dealings. Personal gain, be it through political or financial means is never good for the governance of its citizens, in the end it is rotten and exposed for all of the people to see. Georgia has a long history of politicians that smell with the stink of failure and good intentions.
This puppy T-SPLOST needs to be sent BACK to the drawing board for further discussion and review in order to gain the peoples trust and support without all of the
heavy corporate and purchased feigned support.
If this is a measure supported overwhelmingly by the Corporate community, then the people should know and recognize their TRUE needs are not TRULY being considered and included in the decision process.
sircharles
July 24th, 2012
5:41 pm
I am not sure if you all have read the “fine-printing” when it comes to all of these taxes that the state want you to get involved in. TSPLOST will run money from your paychecks, pockets etc., for the next 10 years, they want us as tax payers to fund their mess! After those 10 plus years, it will still be there without us noticing it because you will be paying more of your taxes to keep whatever they have on the planning board your money will be used for it. Bottom line! Listen, they have already put in an estimated dollars bills for things they want; a New Georgia Dome, street cars, finishing the ARC, building more for down town atlanta right in the same of spots….parking garage, everything they need to get a “Super Bowel” game here. It is not that mass transportation is needed; but can it be afforded on the back’s of all of us when we have our own cars to get where we need to go; after all, we are use to “traffic delays” and no matter what they say or want for the future; mass transportation will be a “mess” itself! How can our officials asked us to vote yes for something when we still have “slums”, “homelessness” “dirty highways” “empty building”, “a mass of foresclosed homes”, and lastly, get these big companies to pay for whatever the city needs, after all, they are the one’s who is pushing the TSPLOST things wanting us, the citizens of Georiga to pay for something we would be responsible for…..while they reap the benefits and revenues. I am not playing this type of game; what do we as citizens of Georiga get out of it….nothing but more of our hard earned money taken and left holding the big tax bills! Those big companies who think we are stupid, what are you all willing to give, kick in, donate or even say its is not worth it! What is the 1 percent, 6 to 7 7 to 8, 8 to 9. I think we are paying to much to live here on earth so other can get rich and not suffer as so many of us are. Bring us something concrete, it won’t make a different with this TSPLOST because the money will not be used for what they are saying……….and that is no lie!
Voted Yes
July 24th, 2012
6:02 pm
Yes because….
The projects reflect the diverse nature of the region.
Streetcars in downtown and the Beltline will greatly benefit the city and even result in some of us in the suburbs to move there – a 10 minute in exchange for a 50 minute plus commute – yeah!
The interstate interchange improvements I-20 at I-285; Ga 400 at I-285; and i-75 at I-285 will greatly improve on the congestion caused by their current design that many of us navigate daily.
This is one of the rare opportunities that the state legislature has given the people the opportunity to decide. The projects reflect Georgia Values, like it or not – in the city, the suburbs, and exurbs.
CommonSense
July 24th, 2012
6:26 pm
I saw on another article on ajc.com that Senator Fort is preparing fliers to give to churches to put in the Sunday bulletins. Isn’t that a direct violation of the church’s tax-exempt status campaigning for a political cause? He would be the first one screaming if a large church in North Fulton was encouraging its members to vote republican. Hypocrites. And idiots.
Bernie
July 24th, 2012
6:46 pm
CommonSense @ 6:26 pm – Why would anybody Do that? When the majority of the church congregations in North Fulton are Republican!
Dave
July 24th, 2012
7:18 pm
“But for every flaw in the T-SPLOST….” Exactly. Ms Abrams, you and your dissenting colleagues got it right the first time. Get rid of the flaws, come up with a real regional transit plan that doesn’t pay off local jurisdictions with a project or two to get their representative’s vote, a plan that recognizes that MARTA is real, a plan that doesn’t let GDOT run things, and a couple of years from now, if your GOP friends will “let” you, I bet you would be surprised by the support you get from us naysayers.
Here’s an idea, now that Governor Deal, quit late, kept a promise that the State broke and is ending the 400 toll, I’d bet you find a lot of support for keeping the toll and using the money to run rail further North. Real transit where it’s needed. Not a nice but not transit related “beltline” to aid developers.
scott
July 24th, 2012
7:52 pm
after 33 years of living in metro Atlanta i have completly fallen out with it..and lookin at Seattle as the place to retire…or the Greenville,sc area..Atlanta has somehow become stagnant due to its backward thinkin political leaders..i will vote this tax down we cant manage whats already here..we need to pay more attention to solving Atlanta,s undealt with problems first and get rid of the racail division here that has seemed to have gotten worst..the best govenor was was barnes that had a more progressive mind and i still think building the outter perimeter that barnes was the best for the region..as for Atlanta we only live here but attend concerts and events in Greenville,sc way easier to navigate and much,much safer and less streesful then going into Atlanta with its poorly planned atmosphere
D man
July 24th, 2012
8:22 pm
I believe we do need road improvements but politicians have taken the easy way out by putting a new tax on the ballot. We are already giving the government trillions of dollars to use for whatever they feel is most important. If they want to improve roads then take money away from a lesser important program or project and use it for road improvements. It IS THAT SIMPLE. Stop asking me for more money. I already pay about 50cents of every dollar I make to the government in taxes. If you politicians are too lazy to do your job of better managing our money, then step aside and let someone else try.
thinking it thru
July 25th, 2012
12:30 am
While I am a four decade-long, white, Decaturite — I find it remarkable and unsettling that our allegedly “progresssive” intown white community is as committed as they are into getting their way on this huge, piece-meal, economic development project financed by a regressive tax and cloaked as a transportation solution.
I am also mindful that to complete this plan will require 3 decades of work; and voter renewal of the uncompleted projects after 10 years. Plus — through these 3 decades — this T-SPLOST will land up to $65 billion (or more) in the hands of the same network of good old boys who STILL play our local politicians like marionettes — while together these powers have historically neglected other infrastructural needs like public transit access, generally funded road maintenance, sanitary and storm sewer capacity, and quality public education. So before anything the size of T-SPLOST, before endeavoring on a project which is intended to last 3 decades as Atlanta’s development and transportation cornerstone for the 21st century: We ALL first must work to fix our political infraxtructure in Georgia! For more info on the problem, refer on the world wide web to stateintegrity.org/georgia .
In any case, the two views expressed in article above show how this T-SPLOST is dividing the black and white communities of metro Atlanta. So — T-SPLOST fair or unfair — this division within our city is another good reason for me to vote against it. Is it not a bit telling that the city fathers’ huge advertising and PR campaign is to “untie”, rather than “unite”, Atlanta?
We must do better. The path to a better plan B is to first vote against this plan A.
Wake up and smell
July 25th, 2012
9:29 am
Does anybody but me find this entire situation odd and an affront on how our government is supposed to operate? We have a litany of elected representatives telling the us how we should vote. The last I checked, our representatives are supposed to LISTEN to their constituents and vote accordingly. When our politicians are telling you and me how to vote, we have a complete reversal of how our system should operate, and shows worsening signs of a dictatorial government. You can bet your bottom dollar that politicians would not be pushing for this if it somehow eroded their power over you. This whole thing is a waste and is predicated upon politicians trying to grow our tax base where they can have even more of our hard earned money to waste. None of this is about making a better City for our EXISTING residents. It is about tricking people into moving here where their pockets can then be picked like yours and mine. This has nothing to do with the bogus “Untie the Knot” catchphrase. More correctly it should be “We Are Going to Steal and Waste More of Your Money”. I’m a solid NO. Take your silly streetcars and stick ‘em.
michael s sliver
July 25th, 2012
11:38 am
Why should we vote for the SLOST in Clayton County? Commissor Bell stated that one of his primary goals was to bring back bus service for the elderly and students. The facts are that transit service will cost 100 million dollars over a ten year period. That being said, the total resident population of Clayton County is 261,532 (national census). The elderly population of over 65 is 18,045 (6.9% of the total population). The residents of Clayton County that are 18 years old or less is 76,628 (29.3% of the population. The ridership was that 8,000 residents were riding the transit each day. That is the equivalent of 3.5% of the total population. If that is correct then an average of 631 elderly and 2682 residents, 18 and under will ride the Transit Service.
If the residents of Clayton want to raise their taxes so that 3.5% of Clayton County can ride the transit, then vote Yes. In my opinion, 3.5% is not enough ridership to vote for the ONE PENNY TAX increase.
Nisa
July 25th, 2012
12:10 pm
I’m totaly voting NO for T-SPLOST! I disagree with putting a bandage on a gun shot wound. Reading Senator’s Vincent Fort’s breakdown of the plan, just even more solidified my NO vote. They lost me at the 9% sales tax that I will now have to pay if this goes through. Especially, as a dekalb resident, who has already been paying the 1% for Marta and now you want me to pay another 1% for T-SPLOST. And other areas who didn’t have to pay into MARTA, will only pay 1% and get the same benefits. Where is the fairness in that? Second, this further lost me with the billions of dollars this T-SPLOST will collect, we are looking to only deter 2.5 minutes off of traffic time for a roundtrip. REALLY! Saving 2.5 minutes of traffic time is not a strong selling point for me. Come with something better like saying the T-SPLOST will provide a tarnsit system that will cover all of Georgia or at least 95% of it. Tell me I will be able to get on a train and go anywhere I want from Atlanta to Cobb to Alpharetta without missing a beat. I’m thinking like NEW YORK! Will we have a transit system like New York? If so, I will be the first to vote yes and say it’s worth every penny. Third, how do you exempt trucking companies and large fleet companies from having to contribute into T-SPLOST knowing that big trucks are a huge part of road damage. What is the sense in that? How could you totally put the burden on your citizens? I wonder if any of these politicians considered the burden a 9% sales tax will be for Atlanta, Fulton, and Dekalb citizens. Also, I wonder if these politicians realize the revenue that could be lost within these counties from citizens traveling to other counties to pay less on goods. Example, if I buy a $1,500 item from my county under this program, I will pay $135 in sales taxes. But if I go to a surrounding county with say a 6% sales tax, I will pay $90 in sales taxes. I will pay $45 less. I refuse to finance my own oppression!!!
Jennifer
July 25th, 2012
12:48 pm
I think Ms. Abrams is confused as to which side she favors. This sounds like a NO vote to me:
“However, as a resident, I owe my region and my state a “yes” vote July 31. This is a generational choice that will set the course for our economic and environmental futures. Opponents of the T-SPLOST are not wrong in their concerns: This is a tax increase on those who have funded MARTA for 30 years without receiving a rail line. The T-SPLOST does not adequately fund public transit, which is critical if we are to be a livable community well into the 21st century. And it is unclear which projects will receive priority status in the spending.
vince
July 25th, 2012
1:36 pm
Can we really be so blind and backwards that we would vote down a project that would help alleviate one of the area’s main drawbacks and provide thousands upon thousands of jobs?