The first TSPLOST
Forum is Tuesday June 5th at 5:30pm at the
Historic Stephens County Courthouse downtown Toccoa. Hear from the Development Authority Director Tim Martin on the
County’s transportations projects. Hear
from Connect Georgia’s Regional Director Tim Davis. Ask our elected officials and local
leadership the following questions: How were the projects chosen? If Stephens County votes TSPLOST down
but other counties in our region vote yes, will we have to pay the sales tax?
If we vote NO but the region votes YES, will our projects still be completed
and will we get the money for local use? Will the TSPLOST sales tax be paid on
food? How can we be sure that all the road projects that were chosen will
actually be funded? Why doesn’t the Legislature just raise the gasoline tax
instead of adding a penny sales tax? Will the TSPLOST become a permanent tax?
Get the answers at the Forum!
Q: Will TSPLOST help reduce property
taxes?
A: No one can guarantee a property tax decrease because of this new TSPLOST. However, since it will supplement the Road Department budget, it could take some pressure off property taxes if it were to pass region wide and certainly could have a positive impact.
A: No one can guarantee a property tax decrease because of this new TSPLOST. However, since it will supplement the Road Department budget, it could take some pressure off property taxes if it were to pass region wide and certainly could have a positive impact.
Q: Why doesn’t the Legislature just
raise the gasoline tax instead of adding a penny sales tax?
A: It
has been said that it would take about 25 cents per gallon of gasoline tax to
equal 1% sales tax. Furthermore, with the increase in efficiency of automobiles
and with less vehicle miles being driven because of the economy, the 25 cent
tax would not keep up with the transportation needs of the future.
Q: Will the TSPLOST become a
permanent tax?
A: No. Although this tax is designed to expire after 10 years, it could be extended only if:
1. A minimum of 7 out of 13 counties request an extension of another 10 years.
2. That request must be approved by the State Legislature.
3. If requested and approved it must then go before the voters of our region again and be approved by 50% plus 1 vote region wide.
It cannot be extended beyond 10 years in any manner other than this procedure, so any extension would be the will of the majority of voters.
A: No. Although this tax is designed to expire after 10 years, it could be extended only if:
1. A minimum of 7 out of 13 counties request an extension of another 10 years.
2. That request must be approved by the State Legislature.
3. If requested and approved it must then go before the voters of our region again and be approved by 50% plus 1 vote region wide.
It cannot be extended beyond 10 years in any manner other than this procedure, so any extension would be the will of the majority of voters.
Q: Will the TSPLOST sales tax be
paid on food?
A: YES.
It will be paid on the same items that our local SPLOST and Education SPLOST
are paid on, which includes food. However no SPLOST is charged on purchases
made with food stamps.
Q: How can we be sure that all
the road projects that were chosen will actually be funded?
A: GDOT
provided the funding estimates for the projects based on their recent
experience of road cost. They have assured the County that these numbers will
be as accurate as possible. All projects are projected to be completed on three
scheduled dates. Should there not be enough money to complete a project in a
particular County, they will only receive the amount of money on the list. Any
cost overrun or revenue shortage would have to come from that County and not
from another County.
Q: Will TSPLOST help reduce property
taxes?
A: No one can guarantee a property tax decrease because of this new TSPLOST. However, since it will supplement the Road Department budget, it could take some pressure off property taxes if it were to pass region wide and certainly could have a positive impact.
A: No one can guarantee a property tax decrease because of this new TSPLOST. However, since it will supplement the Road Department budget, it could take some pressure off property taxes if it were to pass region wide and certainly could have a positive impact.
Q: Why doesn’t the Legislature just
raise the gasoline tax instead of adding a penny sales tax?
A: It
has been said that it would take about 25 cents per gallon of gasoline tax to
equal 1% sales tax. Furthermore, with the increase in efficiency of automobiles
and with less vehicle miles being driven because of the economy, the 25 cent
tax would not keep up with the transportation needs of the future.
Q: Will the TSPLOST become a
permanent tax?
A: No. Although this tax is designed to expire after 10 years, it could be extended only if:
1. A minimum of 7 out of 13 counties request an extension of another 10 years.
2. That request must be approved by the State Legislature.
3. If requested and approved it must then go before the voters of our region again and be approved by 50% plus 1 vote region wide.
It cannot be extended beyond 10 years in any manner other than this procedure, so any extension would be the will of the majority of voters.
A: No. Although this tax is designed to expire after 10 years, it could be extended only if:
1. A minimum of 7 out of 13 counties request an extension of another 10 years.
2. That request must be approved by the State Legislature.
3. If requested and approved it must then go before the voters of our region again and be approved by 50% plus 1 vote region wide.
It cannot be extended beyond 10 years in any manner other than this procedure, so any extension would be the will of the majority of voters.
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