Tax Group Heartened by Number of Candidates Opposing Transit Tax
The Cobb Taxpayers Association, (CTA) a local taxpayers group representing the interests of taxpayers in Cobb County, Georgia, expressed gratitude that a number of candidates in this year’s races for the County’s Board of Commissioners (BOC) oppose the 30 year, $11 billion transit tax. The tax was approved by a by the majority of commissioners and will likely be placed on this November’s general election ballot. The ballot measure, which would increase the county’s sales tax burden from 6 to 7%, would ostensibly increase the level of service for mass transit with the increased tax levy, to be imposed over the next 30 years.
On the Democrat side, Sheila Edwards, who is running to replace Lisa Cupid as the BOC’s Chairwoman, and Yashica Marshall, who is running against District 4 incumbent Commissioner Monique Sheffield, have both taken unequivocal positions against the sales tax which is advocated by their incumbent opponents.
On the Republican side, Kay Morgan, who is running for BOC Chair, opposes the transit tax, along with Pam Rearden, who opposes the transit tax and is running as a “qualified” candidate in the District 2 seat currently held by Commissioner Jerica Richardson, is running within the district lines established by the BOC under its claim of “Home Rule”. This is a unique and controversial legal gambit, designed to keep Ms. Richardson in her current seat by negating the district lines established by the state legislature, and signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp. The new district would have removed Ms. Richardson from office since she would no longer reside within the new district lines.
Also running for District 2 commissioner as a Republican and opposing the transit tax is Alicia Adams, who lives within the district lines established under the State Constitution and legislature, but who has, as of this writing, been denied ballot access under the home rule provision. Her challenge to that provision is pending before the Supreme Court of Georgia.
Chairman and founder of CTA Lance Lamberton said, “CTA is heartened that four candidates from both major political parties have challenged the political establishment in its attempt to impose an incredibly wasteful and counterproductive tax increase that would do nothing to improve mobility within the county, but would actually make traffic congestion worse.”
Lamberton went on to say: “The fact that this boondoggle is being opposed by candidates of both parties speaks volumes that this is not an issue of Democrat vs. Republican, rich vs. poor, black vs. white, or young vs. old, but fiscal responsibility vs. fiscal irresponsibility. No matter what bucket we find ourselves in, we all struggle to make ends meet in today’s challenging economy, and increasing our tax burden only exacerbates that challenge.”
The Cobb Taxpayers Association was established in 2005 to represent the interests of taxpayers in Cobb County, and now has a membership of several hundred grassroots activists. It is part of a coalition of organizations that have coalesced to oppose the transit tax. For more information, go to: www.cobbtaxpayer.com