Taxpayer Group Endorses Byrne for Chairman

TAXPAYER GROUP ENDORSES BYRNE FOR CHAIRMAN

AUSTELL, Georgia – The Cobb Taxpayers Association (CTA) announced today it is endorsing the candidacy of Bill Byrne for Chairman of the Cobb County Board of Commissioners.  Byrne's name will appear on the Republican July 31 special primary election ballot, along with the names of two other challengers and the incumbent Chairman.
“Bill Byrne's forthright defense and advocacy for the taxpayer mirrors the goals and objectives of the CTA,” said Lance Lamberton, CTA president. “He also has an impressive track record of success and leadership experience as the former Chairman of the Board of Commissioners in the 1990s.  Based upon his past performance, his leadership would represent a refreshing and much needed change in direction from the County's current Chairman.”
Among the most prominent positions which Bryne and CTA share common ground include:
Unequivocal opposition to passage of the Transportation Investment Act, which will come before the voters for approval on July 31, and if passed, will increase the sales tax in Cobb County by 17% for the next ten years.
Opposition to using Cobb's property taxes to subsidize the marketing agenda of Cobb's Chamber of Commerce.
Opposition to the substantial county millage rate increase that was passed by the Board of Commissioners in July 2011 at the initiation and urging of Chairman Lee and his allies in the Chamber.  Instead, CTA endorses, in principle, Byrne's proposed list of spending cuts which would have prevented a tax increase while not furloughing police officers or fire-fighters.
Addressing the transportation challenges in Georgia by employing better policy solutions from tax credits to encourage telecommuting to optional toll roads and privatization of our highways.
Reform of the state SPLOST law so that votes can only be held during general elections, and that taxpayer supported entitities like Community Improvement Districts cannot fund pro-SPLOST campaigns under the guise of being for educational purposes only.
"Unfortunately, the current Chairman is on the opposite side of all these issues, and I have yet to see a tax and spend proposal for Cobb that he did not and does not enthusiastically support," Lamberton said.  "He is taking Cobb in the exact opposite direction that we need to go.  We need less money in the hands of politicians and their friends who stand to earn huge profits at taxpayer expense.  Taxpayers and small businesses throughout Cobb need tax relief as the only legitimate formula for getting our local economy back on track.  With Bill Byrne, we've got a proven leader who can accomplish that for us."
Cobb Taxpayers Association is a local grass-roots organization of approximately 200 members and supporters, whose goal is to ensure county and local government provide the best quality services at the lowest possible cost by putting the interests of the taxpayers at the forefront when implementing tax and spending policy.  CTA was formed in 2005 to lead the opposition to the Special Interest Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) that was on the ballot that year.  It renewed its opposition and played a preeminent leadership role in opposing the 2011 SPLOST.  Both measures passed by miniscule majorities, despite opponents being outspent by spending interests 100 to one in both instances.
For more information on CTA go to: www.cobbtaxpayer.com
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