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Mayors and DeKalb officials join forces for sales tax vote

DeKalb County CEO Mike Thurmond, surrounded by mayors and government officials, speaks about ballot measures to increase sales taxes and cut property taxes during a press conference at the DeKalb Roads and Drainage Division on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017. MARK NIESSE / MARK.NIESSE@AJC.COM
DeKalb County CEO Mike Thurmond, surrounded by mayors and government officials, speaks about ballot measures to increase sales taxes and cut property taxes during a press conference at the DeKalb Roads and Drainage Division on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017. MARK NIESSE / MARK.NIESSE@AJC.COM
By
Oct 18, 2017

Elected officials from across DeKalb County and its cities are coming together around referendums to raise sales taxes and reduce property taxes.

DeKalb CEO Mike Thurmond and several mayors said during a press conference Wednesday that the ballot measures would create the county's first special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST), raising the sales tax rate to 8 percent.

It would fund road repaving, new fire stations, more police cars and other infrastructure.

RELATED: DeKalb SPLOST frequently asked questions

Mayors joined Thurmond, saying they’re united in the goal of improving public facilities.

Voters will decide on the SPLOST and a property tax relief measure on Election Day on Nov. 7. Early voting began Monday.

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About the Author

Mark Niesse is an enterprise reporter and covers elections and Georgia government for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is considered an expert on elections and voting. Before joining the AJC, he worked for The Associated Press in Atlanta, Honolulu and Montgomery, Alabama. He also reported for The Daily Report and The Santiago Times in Chile.

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