Poll Position: What’s your vote on the T-SPLOST?
OK, folks, it’s once again time to declare.
If you live in metro Atlanta, what is your vote on the T-SPLOST?
- No (350 Votes)
- Yes (215 Votes)
- Still unsure (27 Votes)
Total Voters: 592
Loading ...Tuesday is T-SPLOST day across the state, and by late Tuesday/very early Wednesday we should know whether it passed in any of the state’s 12 regions, including the 10 counties of metro Atlanta.
If you’re not up to speed on what this is about, well, I can only assume you don’t live in Georgia and/or have just been released from several months of solitary confinement. I don’t have much more to say about it that I haven’t said in the past: see here and here for the many pieces I’ve written about T-SPLOST.
If you don’t want my opinion, check out the AJC’s compilation of reporting about what the 10-year, $7.2 billion sales tax would mean for transportation infrastructure and traffic relief in metro Atlanta.
If you live elsewhere in Georgia, what is your vote on the T-SPLOST?
- No (167 Votes)
- Yes (67 Votes)
- Still unsure (6 Votes)
Total Voters: 240
Loading ...So, vote in the nearby polls. Yes, polls — plural. I’m posting one poll for those who live in metro Atlanta, and another for those who live anywhere else in Georgia. I know, I know, Savannah and Athens and Rome and all the rest are entirely different and deserve their own polls. But 12 polls on one Poll Position post would be way too unwieldy. And I’m going to make a request of those of you who don’t vote in Georgia: Please don’t vote in this poll — it ain’t scientific, but it’s all I’ve got — but feel free to comment in the thread below.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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260 comments Add your comment
emo
July 27th, 2012
12:33 pm
Sorry, voting no. A sales tax is too regresssive for my taste, and I’m not at all persuaded that the projects will actually ease traffic congestion.
middle of the road
July 27th, 2012
12:36 pm
I don’t appreciate being asked to be a “donor county” – paying tax to support Atlanta’s problems. I rarely go to Atlanta and NONE of the projects will make a hill of beans difference to my visits. I have already voted NO
.The Ga 400 debacle was another reason for me to vote NO. I think it was for a lot of people.
If Atlanta wants to tax itself to build the Beltline to benefit Atlanta, it should do that and leave us surrounding counties alone.
There is a better solution to congestion: have growth and businesses relocate to the suburbs outside of Atlanta. Probably is a big reason why Caterpillar went to Athens rather than taking over the GM complex. Let Atlanta fester in its own crime-ridden, poor education state.
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
July 27th, 2012
12:40 pm
Fla. Republican: We wanted to suppress black votes
http://www.salon.com/2012/07/27/fla_republican_we_suppressed_black_votes/
White conservatives have been suppressing minority voters for years. They are pretty good at it too.
Dusty
July 27th, 2012
12:40 pm
CHEESY GRITS
Stop the propaganda perusal please. It is too early in the day to listen to canned comments.
Won’t the DNC pay you just for showing up? How much? Maybe we could match it and keep your comments on the excting interesting T-SPLOST instead of your usual unsubstaniated rumors about Romney.
jconservative
July 27th, 2012
12:41 pm
I live in a large county, area wise, with less than 15K people. The county owns no traffic signals. The county seat has two. The largest traffic jam I have seen in the last year was 5 cars at the local 4-way stop sign.
Our share of the tax is earmarked for two pet projects of the local government that they have been trying to get aproved for decades.
I know of no one voting yes on this tax.
If the state needs more money for infrastructure I suggest the governor and legislature belly up to the bar and raise the tax on gasoline and earmark the proceeds for infrastructure.
carlosgvv
July 27th, 2012
12:42 pm
Kyle – 11:58
No, Kyle, I don’t think the courts are in on any conspiracy. I DO think our Georgia politicians have a proven track record of dishonest behavior and will try, any way they can, to get around spending this tax money where it is targeted.
A large number of Georgians feel the way I do and it’s not logical to assume we’re all just paranoid. I believe a large political housecleaning is in order before we Georgians trust any more tax money to our politicians.
Bob
July 27th, 2012
12:47 pm
I am a former Army officer and tea party supporter and i am voting yes. We cant remain 48 out of 50 states in transportation spending any longer. We are slowly choking our economy to death while we kick the can down the road and do nothing. it is time to act!
weetamoe
July 27th, 2012
12:47 pm
I taught at 2 universities ITP and with a tech consulting company in a midtown loft and live just outside the Atl city limits and never found a way to use a transit combination that took less then an hour to reach my destination. I am not sure where I read this; it was about 6 mos ago, but according to the report even in places like Germany where the roads are first rate and in the UK where I myself used the tube most days, most people (about 70% or so) who must commute to work drive their own vehicles. It might be interesting to do some research on this.
@@
July 27th, 2012
12:50 pm
I live in a large county, area wise, with less than 15K people. The county owns no traffic signals. The county seat has two. The largest traffic jam I have seen in the last year was 5 cars at the local 4-way stop sign.
^^^ that’s what I call move-in ready!
A Realist
July 27th, 2012
12:51 pm
@Road
Yes, there were ‘hearings’ on GA400… but there was no referendum. The DOT wanted it… and only fine tuning was considered (and not necessarily acted upon.)
You are right that there were hearings though.
Dusty
July 27th, 2012
12:58 pm
Bruno, 12:28
I was having a mild anti-Luckovich spell after yesterday’s cartoon where he not only insulted Romney but also the British and Paul Revere
Now you really want to stir the pot. “Are Hawaian Birth Certificates Worth the Paper they are Rrinted on?” as a blog topic.
May be, Bruno. I believe those elite counterfeiters use the best of paper (made from pineapple). Kinda like those folks who printed up Bush’s military record only they forgot computers were not in use then.
No accusations here, of course. Just thinking of that old line,:”what a web they weave when first they practice to deceive”.
CobbGOPer
July 27th, 2012
1:01 pm
Already voted early in Cobb, and voted NO.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
July 27th, 2012
1:02 pm
CNN PRESIDENT RESIGNS
So should obozo.
Bruno
July 27th, 2012
1:02 pm
I was having a mild anti-Luckovich spell after yesterday’s cartoon where he not only insulted Romney but also the British and Paul Revere
Lucko-who??
Call me crazy, but I generally don’t spend much time patronizing people whose only purpose in life is to infuriate others.
Zekenya
July 27th, 2012
1:03 pm
I will vote no because I am retired, I drive less than 5K miles a year, and out where I live the road traffic’s not too bad. And I have zero need for MARTA or other public trans.
OTOH I understand why younger, more active citizens are willing to invest for the future. I just hate to see people saddle themselves with new taxes based on some vaporous government promises.
A Realist
July 27th, 2012
1:05 pm
@middle
Atlanta IS currently building the Beltline – it would be nice to have it extended further via the TSPLOST, and have some of it finished earlier than is currently scheduled. We ARE paying for it ourselves, and if anyone would really look at the plan, they might be amazed at how it will help make the core of the region healthier… but you have to read the plans! The TSPLOST expands the original scope of the Beltline with more connectivity and access. If the center of the region is healthier, the whole region benefits. After all, when you’re out of state, you don’t say you’re from the greater Stockbridge area do you? (not picking on Stockbridge… just picking a random community that is not likely to be recognized worldwide.)
If the ’surrounding counties’ don’t want to participate in being part of a metropolitan area, maybe we ought to put up toll booths/permits for when they want to enter town…sort of like they have in London.
confused young person
July 27th, 2012
1:09 pm
georgians spend the second lowest rate per capita on transportation of any state in the U.S. but somehow expects to be provided with and maintain their infrastructure inline with other states. where do these improvements come from? As population has grown, revenue from the gas tax has not due to more fuel efficient cars, etc. what we have is ‘making do with what we’ve got’ and its clearly not working. if you don’t care enough to invest in infrastructure improvements, why should your employer care enough to maintain your employment? Every single person in a region will benefit from at least 1 project on the list, of which your 1% tax would only pay for a small fraction of 1 project, to think that YOU personally are paying solely for improvements for other people (like the 1%) is ludicrous.
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
July 27th, 2012
1:09 pm
Romney sure did go over big overseas.
The Brits even have a new nickname for him.
Mitt the Twit.
Has a nice ring to it. I still am partial to Cheesy Grits however.
Russell Tripp
July 27th, 2012
1:11 pm
Already voted Yes. Let’s move forward. Neutral or reverse is unacceptable
Rightwing Troll
July 27th, 2012
1:11 pm
Maybe he’ll enjoy some of the Bloody Pudding?
Rightwing Troll
July 27th, 2012
1:13 pm
The fine state of Georgia has been stuck in reverse for years… that’s why we’re last on all the lists you don’t want to be last on, and first on all the lists you don’t want to be first on…
iggy
July 27th, 2012
1:14 pm
“The comments, if true (he is facing felony corruption charges and has an interest in scorning his party)”
Nice article Finn. Scorned policitican/employees are often truthful.
NEXT!
iggy
July 27th, 2012
1:15 pm
“Already voted Yes. Let’s move forward”
Moving forward, over the cliff, into quicksand, into the deep end, isnt necessarily a good thing.
NEXT!
@@
July 27th, 2012
1:15 pm
After all, when you’re out of state, you don’t say you’re from the greater Stockbridge area do you? (not picking on Stockbridge… just picking a random community that is not likely to be recognized worldwide.)
I always tell folks I’m from a county south of Atlanta. I WAS telling ‘em I was from Clayton County, south of Atlanta. Then Clayton County became nationally known, so now it’s just…
a county south of Atlanta.
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
July 27th, 2012
1:16 pm
Dow back over 13,000
You know for an economy supposedly in the dumps there sure are alot of people at Chili’s and Applebees when I drive by.
People still must have enough money for a quesadilla and maybe an order of loaded potato skins.
Road Scholar
July 27th, 2012
1:16 pm
A Realist: It was the only way at that time to fund it! Sure state and fed funds were used also, but the state could not afford to build it if it weren’t for the toll! It has been a success!
Next time you are sick, let’s float the question/cure out there to a referendum? I know it’s farfetched, but when will people trust the professionals? GDOT HAS been overrun by politics!
Don't Tread
July 27th, 2012
1:27 pm
I’m voting NO because “HELL NO” isn’t on the ballot. (There’s a couple of incumbents that will be getting the heave-ho too.)
And to complete the trifecta of issues, seems that a school voucher initiative and Sunday alcohol sales (finally) are on the ballot too. These get the YES vote.
Don't Tread
July 27th, 2012
1:29 pm
Oh, and the local Chick-Fil-A restaurant got the YES vote for lunch today. That place was insanely crowded, but still got my food in a reasonable amount of time.
Streetracer
July 27th, 2012
1:30 pm
I will vote NO. For various reasons. First, infrastructure is part of government’s basic functions. Should be paid for out of general tax revenue. Special taxes should be used to pay for those things over and above basic functions.
Jefferson
July 27th, 2012
1:33 pm
The GOP mindset is that of the Soviets, see where it got them.
JamVet
July 27th, 2012
1:33 pm
Confused faux conservatives debating T-SPLOST is about as exciting as a Romney campaign.
But hat tip to Dusty for unwittingly advertising on behalf of Luckovich.
Mitt the Twit, disliked by the Brits.
He’s unfit to lead.
And how the man can constantly get both feet in that mouth of his is truly amazing.
Must be the result of having a pretzel spine…
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
July 27th, 2012
1:34 pm
Oh, and the local Chick-Fil-A restaurant got the YES vote for lunch today.
The Cathys appreciate your business.
When does the next War on Christmas start ?
Seems to come earlier every year.
Jefferson
July 27th, 2012
1:34 pm
I suspect more yes votes don’t blog during working hours.
middle of the road
July 27th, 2012
1:37 pm
“After all, when you’re out of state, you don’t say you’re from the greater Stockbridge area do you?”
No, I tell them I’m from Canton, Georgia. I don’t say – I am from a north bedroom community of Atlanta (which we are not).
So you just want our monetary help so that you can expand and complete your Beltline quicker, right?
And I will benefit…how?
I would rather the State increase the gas tax and spend it on road projects that help the congestion. But the gas tax can’t be spent on MARTA or the Beltline, can it? That is why you want another source of income from our county.
Stevie Ray...Clowns to my Left and Jokers to my Right here I am....
July 27th, 2012
1:42 pm
Kyle,
I will only vote yes if the money goes into a trust within which the money MUST and CAN ONLY be spent on these projects….I suspect it goes into general funds and passes go so all corruptresentatives can drink from the trough….
middle of the road
July 27th, 2012
1:44 pm
“suspect more yes votes don’t blog during working hours.”
Actually I would suspect the opposite – NO voters can’t let their employers know that they are voting that way since atlanta employers support the YES and are expecting their employees to vote that way – or else.
Cherokee resident
July 27th, 2012
1:45 pm
Middle of road: Cherokee has a list showing the projects they will build with there portion of the proceeds and Canton has projects in there.
Gas tax increae?? Really? You oppose a %1 sales tax but support a $0.25/gal PERMENANT increase to whaterver projects GDOT wants to build? This tax is only 10 years, after that we vote on it again.
middle of the road
July 27th, 2012
1:46 pm
Are the proceeds from the $1.50 tax added to the purchase of new tires going to pay for old tire clean-up, like they were promised to be?
(crickets)
middle of the road
July 27th, 2012
1:48 pm
Cherokee Resident – yes, we get 15 cents on the dollar of our tax money back to Cherokee County – the rest goes to Atlanta. If WE need transportation projects in Cherokee, why can’t we do a Cherokee-only TSPLOST and keep ALL of the money in our county. Instead of being a donor county to Atlanta.
Rich
July 27th, 2012
1:51 pm
My problem is not the tax, it is that the list of project will not help resolve the problem.
middle of the road
July 27th, 2012
1:53 pm
“Gas tax increae?? Really? You oppose a %1 sales tax but support a $0.25/gal PERMENANT increase to whaterver projects GDOT wants to build? ”
Did I say anything about a $.25 gas tax increase? If there is not enough money for road construction and maintenance, then yes, the gas tax should be increased by the amount we need. As a percentage tax, the gas tax has continuously decreased since the 70’s. Heck, don’t INCREASE it, just make it a percentage so it doesn’t decrease with inflation, that would help some. Can you build the same mile of road now for what it cost in 1970?
Cherokee resident
July 27th, 2012
1:55 pm
middle: For me personally, I work in another county and use all of the metro area interstates weekly. I sit in the traffic and want something done, which this does. It’s better than sitting back and doing nothing. I’m not naive enough to think the goverments “all good” but in this case they’ve done the best they can to limit the scope for which the tax will be use for and provided oversight and an end date, along with the option to evaluate it for 10 years before we vote on it again. I don’t see how anyone can’t like that approach. It beats every other approach I’ve seen.
middle of the road
July 27th, 2012
1:57 pm
Do you remember when sales tax was 3%. Then we started adding. We have education SPLOSTS, and now they want a TSPOST. Our property taxes haven’t come down, they have increased. Our Georgia Income Tax has not decreased. So when they want to increase our sales tax by 15%, I am opposed. You say, “But it only means about $200 per year or $20 per month. Would you care if your property tax went up $200 this year? Would you care if you paid an additional $200 on the new car you bought? As Rich said above – if people thought it was going to a good cause, there would be no worries about it passing.
luangtom
July 27th, 2012
1:58 pm
I live in the NE of the state, not too far outside the perimeter. I will vote NO because I do not like the idea of so much of the funding going to MARTA when it will do me no good in my travel navigating around Atlanta. I have little need to go to anything in Atlanta. It is around Atlanta that will be my need. So, diverting funds to MARTA will not add to my project-list for getting around the city-proper. It will be a NO vote from this retiree.
Cherokee resident
July 27th, 2012
2:01 pm
luangton: MARTA will get about %10 of the money, not %52 as some organizations want to claim.
middle of the road
July 27th, 2012
2:02 pm
Cherokee Resident – “For me personally, I work in another county and use all of the metro area interstates weekly.”
And I am sure you are paying a lot of gasoline taxes to support roads. But you are REALLY naive if you think paying a 1% salkes tax so that ATLANTA can build a beltline will make YOUR commute any easier. Are you going to be able to ride the Beltline to your work? Are you even going to be able to take a MARTA train directly to a Braves Game (answer – no, because MARTA will never put rail up 75, and it doesn’t go to the stadium, anyway – that is why when I go to see the Braves, I drive, and this TSPLOST won’t help that drive one little bit).
Vote NO
July 27th, 2012
2:02 pm
The NAACP, the Tea Party, and the Sierra Club all say “NO”. That should tell you something.
Cherokee resident
July 27th, 2012
2:04 pm
Middle: “we get 15 cents on the dollar of our tax money back to Cherokee County – the rest goes to Atlanta”
Not true. There are 10 counties in our area. Not all of them include portions of Atlanta.
Cherokee resident
July 27th, 2012
2:05 pm
Vote NO – It tells me that it’s a middle of the road approach. None of the organizations you list think it’s scewed enough in their favor. Sounds good to me.
Cherokee resident
July 27th, 2012
2:06 pm
middle: I agree that the gas tax should be a precentage.