County commissioners have discussed the possibility of putting a referendum for a 1-cent special purpose, local options sales tax on the ballot later this year.
The board is in Atlanta for the Association County Commissioners of Georgia Capitol Connection Conference, which began Monday morning and ends this afternoon.
Voters rejected a proposed $32.4 million SPLOST on the ballot last March that would have started when the 2009 SPLOST ends on June 30.
“Since the last SPLOST vote failed we still have needs for capital funding,” said Interim County Manager Gary Burkhalter, who was the county’s finance director before being named to his current position in early January.
Burkhalter said if they decide to move forward, a citizens committee would be formed in the next few months.
No votes were taken during the county’s Sunday meeting in Atlanta.
The board also discussed the possibility of constructing a facility that would be used to store equipment for county law enforcement. Burkhalter said it would be used to properly store tactical equipment belonging to the county’s bomb squad.
Also brought up during the work session was the county’s involvement in the 2013 Wings Over North Georgia Air Show, which is scheduled for Oct. 12-13 at Richard B. Russell Regional Airport.
“There was a lot of the general discussion about making it a successful air show and making it something good for the community,” Burkhalter said.
The first edition of the show brought out 35,000 people to the event last September and the United States Air Force Thunderbirds are already scheduled to perform at this year’s show.
The board spent Monday talking to fellow commissioners and administrators from around the state as well as attending sessions on county government finances, human resources, and public health and safety.
“The overall topic seems to continue to be everybody having to do more with less and how they are making that happen,” Burkhalter said. “It is a time to talk to colleagues and see if they’ve had some successful ideas that you can use in your local community as well.”
Today will begin with a breakfast featuring Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and Georgia Speaker of the House David Ralston. Gov. Nathan Deal will speak at a luncheon to conclude the conference.
SPLOST dollars DO NOT FUND cable tv for inmates, cell phones for drug dealers, nor are they given to people who don't pay taxes. (BTW, I would challenge you to produce just 1 individual who doesn't pay any tax whatsoever)
SPLOST dollars ARE used to fund capital improvement projects for cities, counties and school systems that were selected by local citizens and passed by a majority vote of the electorate.
If you don't want inmates to watch tv, you should take that up with court system that allows that. If you don't want to government making cell phones available to low-income citizens, take that up with the elected officials who created that program. And I still want you to produce just 1 person who doesn't pay any tax whatsoever.
SPLOST is the best tool citizens have ever been given to improve the local infrastructure and spread to the cost among all consumers. It's about as democratic as it could be. Citizens pick the projects, and citizens vote whether or not to tax themselves. Misguided and uninformed people like yourself are exactly the ones who continue to allow our surrounding communities pass us by in growth and new jobs.
For some reason, you don't seem to have the ability for a reasonable debate without resorting to name calling or distorting my statements. In your very first reply to me below, you said that I was either a corrupt politician or an idiot. You were wrong on both counts.
Certainly we can agree that wasteful spending of tax dollars at any level of government is wrong. I detest wasteful spending anytime that it occurs. The problem with the argument tedb3rd makes is the disconnect between the wasteful spending he cites and the reason to oppose a SPLOST tax. Since SPLOST dollars don't fund the wasteful spending he recognises, it must be his opinion that any wasteful spending anywhere in government is justification to oppose any new tax on any level. It's the same logic people use to conclude ALL politicians are corrupt because some City Councilman in Hoboken cheated on his milage reinbursement.
What you both fail to see is that regardless of who we elect to serve, and despite our best efforts, there will always be some amount of wasteful spending in government at all levels. So under your logic, there will NEVER be a time one should support a SPLOST vote. And if you believe that to be true, that is your right. No one, including me, is trying to stop you from speaking out in opposition.
What I am trying to do is point out that the things that make you oppose a SPLOST, really have nothing to do with a SPLOST. Disliking government waste in general makes you opposed to a specific SPLOST proposal is like saying "I dislike brocoli so therefore I dislike all food".
Again, a SPLOST is a great tool. Citizens help select the project list and the voters get to decide if they want to make the investment of tax dollars. It would be foolish to allow your dislike of wasteful spending prevent you from voting for something that could help our community, ease our traffic congestion and create new jobs. Now, try and play nice.
I rest my case. Try spell check and grammer check. They're free.
Let's hope your screen name doen't mean you went to the University of Alabama because your grammer skills wouldn't get you a passing grade at the 3rd grade "special ed" class at Midway Elementary.
And your knowledge of the political process is even worse.
"THAT STUPID WALK BRIDGE THEY BUILD" was NOT built with SPLOST money. It was USDOT money passed through GDOT to the City of Rome. Since you are against everything because everyone in public service is a crook, please read Teapartyzombie below. Sounds like you two are in lock step wanting to take Rome backwards instead of forward. Come to think of it, that does sound like Alabama after all.
I haven't had a raise since 2008, yet I must manage on what I am earning. No one is putting extra money in my bank account.
Stop wasteful spending and use the money you have responsibly.
2. Shop Dalton for hundreds of dollars more in savings.
Lower sales tax rate a boon for Dalton, GA. - sales tax rate 5% - July 2012.
3. Floyd needs to get rid of career politicians!