News
News

Elected officials agree on DeKalb sales tax increase

Mayors, DeKalb County commissioners and DeKalb CEO Mike Thurmond agreed Wednesday on a special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST), which would raise sales taxes from 7 percent to 8 percent. Voters will decide on the tax hike in November. From left: Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary, Thurmond, Tucker Mayor Frank Auman, Commissioner Larry Johnson, Decatur Mayor Patti Garrett, Commissioner Kathie Gannon and Stone Mountain Mayor Patricia Wheeler. Dunwoody Mayor Denis Shortal was also present but not pictured. MARK NIESSE / MARK.NIESSE@AJC.COM
Mayors, DeKalb County commissioners and DeKalb CEO Mike Thurmond agreed Wednesday on a special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST), which would raise sales taxes from 7 percent to 8 percent. Voters will decide on the tax hike in November. From left: Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary, Thurmond, Tucker Mayor Frank Auman, Commissioner Larry Johnson, Decatur Mayor Patti Garrett, Commissioner Kathie Gannon and Stone Mountain Mayor Patricia Wheeler. Dunwoody Mayor Denis Shortal was also present but not pictured. MARK NIESSE / MARK.NIESSE@AJC.COM
By Mark Niesse
Sept 7, 2017

Now that city and DeKalb County government leaders reached a deal on a sales tax increase, there's little standing in the way before the issue is put on the ballot in November.

Mayors and DeKalb elected officials agreed Wednesday on a framework for the sales tax, which would fund road resurfacing, fire station repairs, police cars, parks and other infrastructure over the next six years.

The special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) would increase the county’s sales tax rate from 7 percent to 8 percent, generating about $100 million annually for local governments.

The DeKalb Board of Commissioners plans to vote on a project list Tuesday and then vote again later this month to hold a referendum on the sales tax hike Nov. 7.

Exclusive to subscribers: Read more about the sales tax deal on myAJC.com.

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.

Follow Mark Niesse on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

Darius Robinson was relieved of coaching duties after his arrest, the Greene County School District said. (Courtesy of Greene County Schools)

Credit: Greene County schools

Georgia high school coach choked player, put another in headlock, warrants say

The Greene County High coach was charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of simple battery, according to investigators.

Georgia Power, PSC staff strike deal for $16B expansion to power data centers

Georgia Power and the Public Service Commission’s staff unveiled a deal that would allow the utility to build huge amounts of new power plants, mostly to serve data centers.

Warnock renews push for enhanced job training with bipartisan bill

Employers that come to Georgia “are having a hard time finding workers with the education they need,” U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock said in a written statement.

The Latest

Darius Robinson was relieved of coaching duties after his arrest, the Greene County School District said. (Courtesy of Greene County Schools)

Credit: Greene County schools

Georgia high school coach choked player, put another in headlock, warrants say

Sweet Tea: Use your time wisely

A.M. ATL: It’s actually happening

Featured

Waymo autonomous vehicles operate across 65 square miles inside I-285 and have been involved in six incidents with Atlanta Public School buses since May. Waymo issued a recall because of their cars briefly stopping or slowing down before continuing forward while a bus was stopped and flashing its lights. (Courtesy of Atlanta Public Schools)

Credit: Courtesy of Atlanta Public Schools

Waymo cars ignored stopped school buses in Atlanta. What happens now?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation. The autonomous vehicle company has issued a software recall.

Search for new MARTA chief hits snag

The search for a new leader for the regional transit authority is widely seen as one of the most important duties facing the Marta Board

Georgia high school coach choked player, put another in headlock, warrants say

The Greene County High coach was charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of simple battery, according to investigators.