Gwinnett SPLOST Voting Enters Stretch Run

A SPLOST has been part of the woodwork in Gwinnett County since the mid-1980s, except for one year in the 1990s. 

"That was when I was in office," recalled Wayne Hill, former chairman of the Gwinnett Board of Commissioners, at George Pierce Park in Suwanee on Monday. He noted that the measure failed then because officials earmarked all the funds for transportation. A year later, the SPLOST passed when some funds were devoted to other projects.

Hill turned out Monday to vote for renewing the current Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. And he acknowledges that there are those who do not want to see the 1 percent tax live on.

"The negatives always vote," noted Hill.

One of those voted Monday -- Beverly Finney of Suwanee. She cast a no vote because "every day it's another tax.

"Everything is getting so expensive. I hear what they are saying, but it's just more money to pay. Income isn't going up."

County officials want to renew the tax, which expires in March 2014, for three years. The new tax would bring in as much as $498 million.

About 78 percent of the proceeds would go to the county, with the rest going to the cities. Both the county and the cities would devote most of the funds to transportation projects.

Voting will continue at the satellite locations in Gwinnett through Friday. Election Day voting Nov. 5 will be at county precincts. There will be no voting on Monday, Nov. 4.

Hill is a lifelong Suwanee resident. "It's not the same community it used to be," he said Monday. "We've got to keep out front."

-- Have you voted for SPLOST? Do you think it will pass? Tell us in the comments below.

See also:

• SPLOST Town Hall Meeting Scheduled for Oct. 30