A Georgia tea party leader says he and others will vigorously work to persuade Gwinnett County residents to vote against a 1 percent sales tax to fund dozens of education projects.
The Gwinnett and Buford school districts have placed a Nov. 3 referendum on the ballot to continue a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax for school construction projects and classroom technology improvements. The districts estimate the tax will raise about $950 million. Gwinnett, Georgia's largest school district, would get about $928 million from the tax.
“They don’t need any more money. They have plenty of money,” said Steve Ramey, a Lilburn resident who is co-chairman of the United Tea Party of Georgia, which claims about 3,000 members.
Ramey believe school districts must spend tax dollars more wisely.
The Gwinnett County Chamber of Commerce's Board of Directors announced last week it is supporting the SPLOST referendum. The chamber and the Gwinnett district have partnered on economic development initiatives, which Ramey has argued is illegal.
Ramey said tea party activists will fight the referendum through grassroots campaigning.
“We can’t be competitive with (the chamber),” Ramey said, noting the chamber has more money than his tea party group. “The only thing we can do is educate the people.”
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