T-SPLOST

By Jeanette Smith

            Years ago the late Senator Everett Dirksen said, “A billion here, a billion there and pretty soon you're talking about real money.”   Well folks, TSPLOST is talking about real money!  For so long the Feds have inundated us with such large numbers we have become “disconnected from the cost”—lost our reality of debt impact.  Many people express they feel helpless to change anything in government—well, here is your chance.  Vote “NO” to TSPLOST to stop an excessive increase in local debt.

            Why?  Because instead of dealing with our traffic problems, TSPLOST presented plans in which they tried to be everything to everyone.  No matter how many urban trends we might wish to have, the flavor of Atlanta is not urban—and with so many people struggling, now is not the time to splurge.   More importantly, many of those being asked to vote for TSPLOST have no interest in Atlanta’s expensive wish list.  

            People in the outer counties are finding they do not want to go into debt for grossly overpriced projects, expensive design/consultant fees, nor for Atlanta to have their bike trails and sidewalks, and have never voted to support a rail system that is not only a financial drain but one that has proven it either cannot or will not become financially self-supporting.  It makes no sense to ask for billions for MARTA when the fare is $2.50!  The last time I rode the rail from NYC to half way into Long Island in 1991, the round trip fare then was about triple the $5 round trip fare to the Atlanta airport today—some 21 years later!  Insane!

            TSPOLST is just one of many things that will impact your finances.  Dekalb County CEO, Mr. Ellis, has practically been screaming at us to expect property tax increases of up to over 10% a year for at least the next 3 years.  You can expect a 30-35% larger property tax bill by 2014, yet we hear of only minimum cutbacks in spending.  Also, will our aging infrastructure require our City taxes to be increased?  Other service/tax entities are looking of ways to restructure the basis by which bills are calculated so as to get more money. 

             Economic recovery is not coming quickly, everything is going up and by the time you start to feel the pinch, you won’t be able to undo your vote…so vote “NO” now!  The average household, needs to put things into perspective, “…a few hundred here, a few thousand there and pretty soon you’re talking about real money.” 

Source:  Jeanette Smith, Dunwoody Crier, Letter to Editor

Comments:

Amen, Jeanette.  For more information on T-SPLOST see Traffic Truth. Net and Traffic Truth on Facebook.  Look at the YouTube videos on Georgia T-SPLOST Voter Education  and download the T-SPLOST Fact Sheet.       

  

Norb Leahy,  Dunwoody Tea Party Leader