TSPLOST Defeated!

The TSPLOST referendum was defeated handily yesterday.After long months of controversy, the transportation referendum was voted down in the Northwest Georgia District, which includes Gilmer, Fannin, and Pickens Counties, among others. According to the latest results, 68 percent voted “no” and 32 percent voted “yes” in the district. Surprisingly, though, the referendum was also rejected in other unexpected areas, such as the Atlanta Region, which includes Cherokee and Cobb. In fact out of the twelve state regions, only three regions approved the one percent sales tax increase: Central Savannah River Region, The River Valley Region, and the Heart of Georgia Region. In short, the majority of the state rejected it.

North Georgia Tea Party Alliance Chairman and Gilmer County Tea Party Communications Director Jack Smith was one of many local community members who opposed the tax and worked to inform the public of its nuances

“We are most gratified that the citizens of Gilmer County, The NW Georgia Regional Commission and the state of Georgia were able to comprehend just how bad this legislation was,”

Smith wrote in an email to FYN today, adding,

“This attempt to Regionalize decision making, was not in the best interest of the people. We hope that future legislation will fully meet the true needs of the people, and not those of special interest groups and out of touch politicians. We look forward to being able to support future efforts to meet our needs.”