Organizers of anti-SPLOST campaigns in Cobb County are holding separate rallies a week apart this month, with the first one competing at the same site against a pro-SPLOST rally.
The Georgia Taxpayers Alliance, led by James Bell, will conduct an “Ax the Tax” rally on Saturday at the Marietta Square to defeat a proposed four-year extension of the county's current one-percent special sales tax. Cobb County Taxpayers Association, the Georgia Tea Party and the Libertarian Party of Cobb County collectively are holding another rally the following week, March 13.
“The GTA decided on its own to have its own rally,” said Lance Lamberton, president of the taxpayers group. “We were not invited to participate in the rally. This should have no impact on the tax referendum. Instead of one event there will be two events. The major one will be [March 13].”
Bell obtained a permit for the March 5 rally and locked in the date.
“I wouldn’t say there’s a split in any way as far as the events go," he said. "We are independent of each other.”
The pro-SPLOST group Citizens for Cobb’s Future, led by Rose Wing, is having its own “Family Fun” rally on Saturday, also at Marietta Square. Wing declined comment on the anti-tax campaign.
CCTA has spent about $1,500 on signs and advertising, including $115 to pay Bell for supplies, according to a campaign finance report filed Tuesday. The organization took in $500 in cash and $1,000 in in-kind contributions.
Reports are due to the state 15 days before the special election.
Citizens for Cobb’s Future has not filed but expects to meet the five-day grace period deadline of March 7, Wing said.
As of Wednesday, 2,104 voters had cast early votes in advance of the March 15 special election. Cobb has 392,355 eligible voters, said Janine Eveler, Cobb’s elections director. The SPLOST referendum will cost about $340,000.
If approved by voters the SPLOST extension is expected to generate $492 million.
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