So Where Do You Stand on TSPLOST?

Wherever you turn there are attempts to educate voters on the importance of voting "Yes," on the Transportation Special Option Local Sales Tax. But not everyone is convinced. Voters will get to decide whether or not they support the measure in a referendum on July 31.

Established by the Transportation Investment Act of 2010 splitting Georgia into 12 separate transporation regions, the vote will give each of the regions the choice of wether or not to impose a 1 percent sales tax for a 10 year period. The funds will be raised to to fund certain specific transportation projects already proposed. 

Detailed information as well as the specific projcts for each region can be found here.

Supporters of voting Yes on the TSPLOST referendum give the following as some of the reasons to do so.

• Traffic in much of the state is gridlocked and transportation upgrades are desperately needed.
• The traffic and transportation projects will bring much needed jobs to Georgia.
• Releasing the traffic gridlock will attract employers, bringing more much needed jobs to the state.

Opponents say citizens are taxed too much already - that its just another way for government agencies to raise revenue. Many point to broken promises in the past, like the 400 toll road. After the agreed 10-year period of collecting tolls to cover the cost of the roadway, the toll was renewed instead of being dropped as was agreed at the outset. Opponents don't believe the TSPLOST will go away after 10 years either.

So where do you stand on the July 31 TSPLOST referendum?

Yes, it is something that needs to be approved or No, we're taxed enough already.