By now everyone should have seen or heard one of the advertisements begging us to vote for another penny sales tax for TSPLOST. The “Georgia Chamber of Commerce” is spending millions on this campaign which is supposedly funded by “Private Interest”. They say if we just vote another penny sale tax all our traffic woes will be fixed.
Don’t believe them.
Look at what will be funded. Over 53 percent will fund mass transit projects. I’m not against funding transit, however funding over $500 million in MARTA capital projects while they already get a penny sales tax is wrong.
Add Atlanta Beltline projects totaling over $600 million. Atlanta will be getting over $1 billion for special interest projects which will have not affect traffic on Interstate 575 or Georgia 400, or any other street.
What is Cherokee county getting? A Highway 140 widening project so we can get to Roswell faster only to sit in traffic on 400.
They promise that after 10 years the tax will “sunset”. Sure it will, just like the promise to remove tollbooths on the Georgia 400 Extension when it was paid off.
If TSPLOST passes it will never go away. If all these penny sales taxes pass some areas could see as much as an extra 10 percent added to every purchase.
Ironically Republicans in state government, the most ethical state government in history, have expanded government and taxed more than state Democrats ever did and boy are state Democrats jealous.
Stop this madness, vote no.
Raleigh Morgan
Canton
Just how will the Atlanta Beltline relieve traffic on highway 140, highway 20, 575? Well? The truth is the Beltline is a recreational project. It is designed for walking paths, bike, and a very limited trolley. Not a single method to mass move people around Atlanta with any efficiency. It will do nothing for traffic outside Atlanta and little for traffic inside Atlanta. Don’t get me wrong I like the idea but Atlanta alone will benefit and Atlanta alone should pay for it. My god man we have our own special project just like for a river walk. Where is the funding in TSPLOST for it? Isn’t that just as worthy as the Beltline. Who should pay for it?
Now road projects how many more do we need? TSPLOST does not take into account maintenance and up keep. Right now there are state roads in Cherokee County, main state roads that are lacking necessary maintenance. Why? They say well we just don’t have the funds. If they don’t have the funds to maintain what we have why build more that will just fall into disrepair?
I don’t know where you live but I travel an east west route to and from work as the majority does in Cherokee to Cobb and Gwinnett counties . All east west routes have been ignored for years and ignored again with TSPLOST. The Highway 20 widening project was dropped yet again in favor of the 140 project. But again why spend the money if we can’t maintain it.