Sides get ready for SPLOST battle in Cobb

The debate about extending Cobb County’s penny sales tax for four years, set for a vote March 15, is set to heat up with the release of a list of 50 organizers trying to get the measure passed.

But convincing residents — many of whom have already protested the extension and testified against it at commission meetings — could be difficult.

Citizens for Cobb’s Future is headed by retired attorney Rose Wing. Members include a mix of longtime county residents and power brokers, ranging from Heidi Green, state economic development commissioner under former Gov. Sonny Perdue, to former county public services director Bob Ash.

CCF first organized more than five years ago to promote the 2005 special sales tax. That SPLOST, which expires Dec. 31, passed by 114 votes.

In their final meeting of 2010, Cobb commissioners agreed to put the extension proposal before voters in March. The SPLOST is expected to generate $492 million for parks, recreation and transportation projects for the county and Cobb’s six cities.

Cobb County Schools has a separate penny SPLOST, expiring in 2013, that can be used to build new schools, upgrade buildings and buy technology and supplies.  Also in the mix is a 1 percent transportation sales tax that the Atlanta region is slated to vote on in 2012. A list of regional transportation projects is currently being devised.

Locally, Wing said special purpose local option  sales taxes are the most conservative revenue source for the county and provide the best form of transparency, accountability and local control for taxpayers.

The CCF has formed committees for a speakers' group and fund-raisers and expects to launch a website this week.

Chuck Clay, a CCF member and an attorney with Marietta-based law firm Brock, Clay, Calhoun and Rogers, said, “This has sold in the past because Cobb Countians believe this is a fair tax for investment in infrastructure in our community.”

Having such a group of business and civic leaders organized for the issue is a plus, Clay said.

“It’s an important start and allows you to get a level of attention, but you still have to go out and convince enough voters," he said.

On the other side of the SPLOST issue are organizations including the Cobb County Taxpayers Association and the Georgia Taxpayers Alliance, working to defeat the extension.