Tomorrow, Tuesday, March 15, the citizens of Cobb will vote on a one-cent four year Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST). If approved by voters, it will be in effect from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2015. Currently, 4 percent of Cobb County’s 6 percent sales tax (one of the lowest sales tax rates in the state) goes to the state, 1 percent to the School SPLOST and the final 1 percent to the current County SPLOST (set to expire Dec. 31, 2011). 

   Cobb County SPLOST renewal that will provide much needed funds for parks, transportation, public safety, libraries, senior centers and other Cobb and city facilities at a time when there are no other public dollars available. This SPLOST is a conservative, pay-as-you-go approach that is designed to keep Cobb County competitive when it comes to job creation, keeping our overall tax rates the lowest in metro Atlanta. People often ask how can they help with our economic development efforts. The SPLOST is the best way to make an immediate impact. The last SPLOST in 2005 only passed by 115 votes – Every vote counts!

   SPLOST funds will go to parks, transportation, public safety, libraries, senior centers and other Cobb and city facilities. Each Cobb city will receive a portion of the funds allocated according to 2009 Census estimates. Here is what the SPLOST funds, if approved, will do:

• FACILITIES TOTAL $16,748,420
  Libraries, Senior Services, Judicial, Public Health and other County facilities in need of repairs, capital improvements, energy efficient upgrades and modernization.
• PUBLIC SAFETY TOTAL $12,896,400
  Funds will go to Public Safety (Fire and Police) critical needs to replace aging facilities, equipment and apparatus. Also planned are improvements to public safety communications systems along with judicial and public health facilities.
• TRANSPORTATION TOTAL $250,885,000
  Projects include infrastructure preservation (resurfacing, bridges and drainage), pedestrian improvements, transit, traffic congestion relief, safety and operational improvements (roadways, intersections and school zones), and federal/state matching funds. SPLOST funding will be leveraged to receive additional funding from other sources, including Federal, State and Community Improvements Districts.
• PARKS TOTAL $82,023,000
  Funding for these projects will be geared toward revitalization of existing parks, and renovations to existing park buildings and facilities including athletic field upgrades.

  For more information, see www.cobbsplost2011.org or www.cobbsfuture.org.

GO VOTE: TOMORROW, TUESDAY, MARCH 15!!