Henry County commission denies TSPLOST on November ballot
Despite acknowledging the county’s transportation problems, Henry County commissioners voted Tuesday against putting a possible Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax on the November ballot.
At the commission meeting, County Manager Cheri Hobson-Matthews said the county had identified roughly $3 billion in projects during a transportation plan update in 2016. The county would be about $2 billion short on its 25-year planning horizon, she said, and hoped citizens to consider the idea of a one percent tax to help the county meet the budget.
Commissioners Dee Clemmons and Bruce Holmes were onboard with the idea of putting the option on the general election ballot later this year. Clemmons said she has received several calls about communities needing their roads resurfaced, while Holmes said there was a great demand for sidewalks in the county.
“I think it would be irresponsible if we don’t let the citizens decide the way they want the county to look in the future,” Holmes said.
The other commissioners, however, disagreed, many concerned by the lack of an official list of projects and how the money would be divided.
“I feel a little bit like I’m going to be voting blind,” Commissioner Blake Prince said. “It makes me uncomfortable making the vote when we don’t know where we’re spending the money.”
Chair June Wood recognized the “significant issue with our transportation,” but, citing citizen comments about taxes, said there needs to be more feedback from the community before allowing a TSPLOST.
“I believe our citizens and our cities have to a part of identifying our priorities,” she said.
Wood also said there needs to be “another level of accountability,” should the TSPLOST pass on the ballot, to ensure projects are identified and funding is carried through.
In a final vote, the motion to place a TSPLOST vote on the ballot failed 2-4.
