Get to Know the SPLOST Debate, Projects for South Cobb

In 11 days, this round of SPLOST campaigning and debating will come to a close in Cobb County. 

All the SPLOST debating, campaigning, forums and rallies will soon be over with in Cobb County…for now. There are six days left to early vote about the SPLOST extension and the official voting day on the issue is March 15.

Some believe an extra tax is inappropriate during the current economy, while others say that a special purpose local option sales tax is the way to fund current needs.

If passed on March 15, the SPLOST is estimated to generate $492 million for parks, recreation, public safety, libraries, senior centers and transportation projects for the county and its six cities.

Austell is projected to receive nearly $4.7 million, which is about 1 percent of the entire revenue from the SPLOST, if passed.

The special four-year tax would begin Jan. 1, 2012, just as the current one ends.

Proponents have identified SPLOST as a tool that leads to the county attracting more businesses. They say it will keep millage rates from rising and improve infrastructure.

Something they also point to: an estimated 30 percent of project funding would come from visitors to the county.

Many facilities have been paid for by previous SPLOSTs, supporters say, including road widenings, bridges, expansions of the county jail and the new county courthouse.

If the SPLOST fails on March 15, the county would incur debt and its AAA bond rating could be threatened, said Rose Wing, a retired attorney who heads Citizens for Cobb’s Future.

The group began organizing more than five years ago to promote the 2005 special sales tax. That SPLOST, which expires Dec. 31, passed by 114 votes.

On the other side of the SPLOST debate are organizations including the Cobb County Taxpayers Association and the Georgia Taxpayers Alliance.

They say the list of projects is more of a “want” list than a “need” list. The county must be more conservative toward the current budget and see what can be cut, said Lance Lamberton, president of the Taxpayers Association.

In the down economy, county commissioners need to be thinking more about cutting taxes than adding more, Lamberton said. 

The biggest expenditure on Austell’s SPLOST list is $1.1 million for road resurfacing, which includes milling, patching and restriping of the roadways throughout the city.

Money for the replacements will have to come from somewhere, whether it's SPLOST funds or additional property taxes, city officials have said.

Other items on Austell’s SPLOST project list include:

• $125,000 for the installation of sidewalks on Austell-Powder Springs Road, from Cureton Woods subdivision to Legion Park
• $60,000 for the installation of sidewalks from Old Marietta Road to the end of Washington Street Extension
• $100,000 for the redirection of drainage from Jefferson Street to Veterans Memorial Highway
• $150,000 for the connectivity of sidewalks on Veterans Memorial Highwayx under the existing Maxham Road overpass
• and citywide projects like: $100,000 for drainage system improvements, $502, 355 for sidewalks and $665,957 for maintenance equipment.
• $1.2 million for parks improvements
• $700,828 for public safety projects, like the $200,000 purchase of six patrol cars and a new $450,000 fire engine.

If the above items, labeled as Tier One projects, are completed before the SPLOST funds run out, the city plans to use the extra money for additional citywide road resurfacing, sidewalks,  infrastructure improvements, public safety, fire equipment purchases, facility upgrades and general park improvements.

For Mableton, SPLOST tier one projects include:

• $206,000 for Heritage Park boardwalk improvements and restroom renovations

• $1,631,000 for the new concession buildings and athletic field renovations at Lions Park and a South Cobb community center renovation

• $201,000 for Art Center office renovation at the Mable House

• $1,411,000 for additional parking, concession building replacement and electrical upgrades at the tennis courts for Nickajack Park

• $75,000 to improve the Floyd Road trailhead of the Silver Comet Trail

• $621,000 for tennis court replacements, athletic field renovations and scoreboard replacements at Sweetwater Park

• $436,000 for Thompson Park Community Center renovation

• $9.7 million for Floyd Road corridor improvements

• $4 million for new sidewalks and new turning lanes for River View Road

• $6.9 million on Six Flags Drive for new turning lanes, corridor improvements, pedestrian refuge median and intersection realignment

• $850,000 for sidewalk improvements for Mableton Elementary’s school zone

The SPLOST tier one projects for unincorporated Austell are:

• $93,000 for Clarkdale Park improvements to drives and roadways and scoreboard replacements

• $349,000 for air quality improvements and new paint at the South Cobb Aquatic Center

• $212,000 for roof repair and interior renovations at the South Cobb Recreation Center

• $2.6 million for new concession building, renovation to athletic fields and electrical upgrades to Tramore Park

• $2.2 million for replacement concession building as well as the addition of concession building and renovation of athletic fields at Wallace Park

Advance voting is scheduled for Monday through Friday next week at select locations. A flier that includes those locations and times is attached to this article. There is no voting on March 14.

For voting locations for the March 15 voting day, click here.