The regional transportation tax was up for debate again Monday night in Cobb County during a town hall meeting in Marietta.
Before a mostly critical crowd, a panel of experts on both sides of the issue answered audience questions for almost two hours, many of which were highly skeptical of the transportation plan. More than 200 people, including an array of candidates running for various county and state offices, attended the meeting hosted by County Commissioner Bob Ott at Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church.
Cobb County has become one of the most hotly contested areas for the transportation referendum that is on the July 31 ballot. If approved by voters in the 10-county region, the 10-year, one-cent sales tax is projected to raise about $6.14 billion to fund more than 150 projects in the metro Atlanta region. Much of the opposition in the county has centered around an almost $700 million express bus line that began as a light rail line from the Cumberland area to the Arts Center MARTA station.
"What's being proposed will cost every household $3,500 over next 10 years, whether you are for it or against it. I'm in profound opposition to this wasteful project list," said Rep. Ed Setzler, R-Acworth, one of the panelists opposing the plan. He has proposed voting down the referendum and coming back in two years with a new tax plan structure and project list.
Setzler was joined by Cobb transportation activist Ron Sifen. On the supporting side were WSB traffic reporter Capt. Herb Emory and attorney Chuck Clay representing advocacy group Untie Atlanta.
"I've been hearing for 35 years from people who say, 'if we just do this, if we just come back in two years, if we do it my way,'" said Clay, a former state legislator. "But if you think that there will be a magic solution down the road that satisfies everyone, you're incorrect. If we're waiting on that nothing will ever get done."
Ott, who opposes the tax plan, held his town hall a day before Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and a collection of Cobb politicians, including former Gov. Roy Barnes, were set to a discuss the tax plan at a Get Out the Vote Rally at the Smyrna Community Center.
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