Anyone watching this on TV? How's it playing in that forum?

I guess a conservative can never go wrong using Ronald Reagan's "There you go again" line.

The pro-SPLOST case doesn't seem to be persuading many in this largely anti-tax crowd, judging by the shaking heads, mumbling and grumbling.

Rose Wing woke up the crowd a bit and got a nice round of applause a few minutes ago with her greater-good argument about doing things to help all the people of Cobb.

Someone please inform Rose Wing that a portion of the fuel taxes we pay on every gallon of fuel we purchase in Cobb County is used for road repair and pothole discovery.

A good example is the new, multi-million dollar courthouse at Marietta Square. This courthouse came in under budget, ahead of schedule, and is completely paid for (with previous SPLOST funds). To me, this is a BARGAIN!!! We absolutely need to pass SPLOST again.

Thomas, Kathleen or anyone else: How much do you think most people care whether SPLOST passes? We saw a lot more interest and passion a week ago with the school calendar issue, even though every vote counts on SPLOST and only seven votes (the Board of Ed members) counted on the calendar.

I have often heard that one of the reason the Cobb County is cash poor is due to housing foreclosures. I'm not really understanding why....someone or some bank owns these properties and their taxes should still be paid on a yearly basis. If the banks own the foreclosed property are they not required to pay the property taxes?? If they are exempt then change the law. Are they exempt??? I'm trying to get a handle on why the foreclosure rate is impacting us. Please, someone out there educated this dull brain.

SPlOT directly benefits Cobb & our schools...and that's worth a penny all day long! People need to understand you get what you pay for in this world. I understand budgets are tight (mine is too) but if we want great school and nice public facilities then we've got to "pay our way"

Marlene, you are correct...taxes on foreclosed properties are paid by the mortgage firm or bank holding the mortgage. These companies are not exempt from the tax liability. Cobb County still collects these taxes. So, you may want to question the Cobb County Tax Collector and get a report on just what is being done with the property taxes collected on foreclosed properties. An audit of all SPLOST spending is in order.....but will the Cobb County Commission do this ?

Cobb Co IS suffering a decline in revenue due to foreclosures, because when these foreclosures do sell, the sales price is low, and it pulls down the appraised values of all our homes. Which means the county has lowered our property tax assessments, and we will be paying lower taxes to them -- even though we still need all the same services from them.

It's a shame to see the library closed on Sunday and closing early each night. Most of the tax on fuel goes to the state and federal government, so there's not much in Cobb County's coffers for sidewalk and road repair. Times are tight. We can expect more government service cutbacks unless something changes soon in the real estate market.

My daughter and son in law bought a home below market value and the property taxes DID NOT/DO NOT reflect this decrease. Yes, they called the County Tax assessors office and complained. The value on my home doesn't reflect current market either and there is no way I could sell it for what they have it appraised for. So if Cobb County is lowering property assessments it is done on a very selective basis. Just because one or two went into foreclosure in a neighborhood doesn't mean the surrounding homes have a drop in their value, that the County will recognize anyway.
Times are very tight. Makes me wonder a bit why Cobb County is still having a special election on SPLOST at the tune of $400,000.00. It's not like the end date on the current SPLOST came as a big surprise.

Cobb County tax appraiser has not, in 4 years, re-appraised any home that I own. Property tax assessment has not been lowered in District 3. The foreclosed properties still have a tax liability at their last assessed value and this tax has to be paid whether or not these homes are sold............unless you have an uncle that can pull strings.

We MUST invest in Cobb...one penny will continue to keep our county one of the best in the state!! You get what you pay for and these projects are decided in advance (no black hole of tax money) and they benefit everyone. We certainly need updates to our Senior Centers, roads, bridges and parks. Making these vital improvements are not "wants" they are what responsible communities do in order to replace what is old, broken or in need of repair.
This type of program also keeps our property taxes some of the lowest around...we certainly don't want to go the way of Fulton!! Studies have shown close to 30% of this tax is paid by residents outside Cobb who use our services every day.

As politely as I can express myself, I must say that Kim, you are out of your freaking gourd if you believe the nonsense about 30% of non-Cobb residents paying the SPLOST tax. Read the darn studies, go to the source!! This study is from 2002 and doesn't even include Cobb County. Using your flawed logic about the 30%, will you then concede that 30% of Cobb County residents spend their dollars in Fulton, Bartow, Paulding, Cherokee and Douglas counties? There is just no way to accurately determine that the 30% of tax revenue comes from outside Cobb County. Tell a lie often enough and loud enough some gullible people will eventually believe it.

Thomas. Even IF your statement is correct I still support the 6% current rate (which by the way to many other comments this is not a tax increase) and support most projects listed!
These statements about the "will of the people" is your opinion NOT mine. I'm a life long Cobb resident who is raising four children in Cobb and I will vote YES as will many of my friends/neighbors and ALL my very large family...so the is the politicians supporting our "will" to see Cobb continue to be a GREAT place to live!!

You anti-tax people make me want to scream! If the county doesn't have adequate revenue, all of our services will decline. We've got a major infrastructure problem in this country: No one wants to pay for anything, so everything is in decline. If we don't do it now, we'll have to play catch-up later, and it will be even more expensive. You think people will want to pay more in taxes when the economy improves? No, they won't!! Taxation is NEVER painless, but a penny on the dollar is about as painless as you can get, especially in view of what it buys us.

Well just have at it Kim and Kathleen, SCREAM at those brilliant thinkers and planners who spend your tax money on Marietta Mules, about $70K.....now that really is a SPLOST project....and WOW that kind of spending really helps improve our infrastructure....mules on dirt roads, yep, that'll do it. Won't be bothered with pot holes and paved sidewalks.....just ride the mule to work. Be sure to tell the Cobb County Commission how to contact you for your penny on the dollar contribution....and while you're at it, ask for an audit of all the SPLOST spending to date.

Pam I couldn't have said it better!! We will vote (every member of my family including my 18 year old & my Grandma) because we're all Cobb "lifers" and we care about our "wants" and "needs".
Why do some people assume the answer is ALWAYS "cut taxes"? Our 6% tax is a bargain for our parks, Senior Centers (which Mom & Grandma love) roads & yes EVEN new aquatic center and nice athletic fields!! Maybe all these people opposed could move or shop in Fulton @ 7%...heck I'd pay that for some of the projects listed!

Is SPLOST still going to be a "Special" election....AGAIN!? Last figure I saw on these "Special" elections were in the neighbor hood of $400,000.00. If this is accurate, I think we need to rethink how our tax dollar is really being managed. Like I stated before...the term limit of the SPLOST isn't a surprise so why should the election be held separately?
Tim Lee said in one of our 'Town Hall Meetings" that it was made a "Special" election because it wouldn't pass if it wasn't. His words not mine and I do have witnesses. Don't get me wrong ..I like Mr. Lee, he's a very personable man, but that was his answer to someone who asked why the SPLOST vote couldn't be held at the same time we voted on other things.
We do need to stop spending money like we have it.

Kim,
As good as many of these projects seem it is only common sense to put a hold on all new projects until our economy gets on an even keel again. No need to create things now that will need to be maintained for years to come...if our current taxes are struggling to do the job now, why add on other liabilities. I guess my point is....there is a difference between "wants" and "needs".
Cobb County is better than Fulton...always has been, always will be...and I'd like to keep it that way.

I see many valid points but at the end of the day SPLOST work has improved our county quality of life, even if not a perfect process...whatever is? Will the people complaining now complain less later, or is this just something they'd fight under any circumstances? There will always be people that hate to hear the word "tax" no matter what it pays for in the end!!

OK, the mule thing was a debacle, but it wasn't paid for with SPLOST funds, and honestly, it wasn't that much money -- just made for sensational headlines. And Marlene, as to putting "a hold on all new projects until our economy gets on an even keel again" -- this is exactly my point. Some people never want to pay anything extra, no matter how healthy the economy is. And if we "put a hold" on everything now, we'll just have to catch up later, which will be more expensive in the long run.

When you're blowing 500 million in SPLOST money, I guess $78,00 plus from the county budget isn't much to waste for two mules for Hyde Park, which never came to fruition!!! Sam Olens, Tim Lee and Bob Ott were in favor of this purchase. My, my, to most of us that's a lot to waste !! If it's not money out of your own wallet then it's o k according to you and the politicians. I think that most of us would agree that if our economy was booming, as it was when the last SPLOST was slid through, then we wouldn't be so opposed. Very few people are being relocated here or any other place with the decline in the job market. Have you not heard??? Having lived in Cobb County and paid taxes for over 34 years, my children were educated in the top Cobb Schools and enjoyed sports and cheerleading. Now that I'm older, I'm enjoying all the wonderful updated facilities offered to seniors created with my tax dollars. Although these appear on the want list, I and others who frequent these facilities, see no signs for needed improvements for the Senior Citizen facilities, Mountain View Aquatic Center, the many outstanding libraries... I am well informed on what is actually going on because I've researched and done my homework. You might want to take a look at www.cobbsplost2011.org to see a the want list. Many of the projects listed were redone within the past 4 years!!! The pigs just don't want to leave the trough now do they? Let's try for more scare tactics...

If you have kids and you want to get them out of the house, then you will think that making our sports fields "gems" is a good idea. I see nothing wrong with backyards, but I guess you can't have organized sports there. They're going to put a new building at Jim R. Miller Park. Why? I understand replacing roofs and fixing plumbing problems, but new buildings are not needed. But I have talked myself into voting for the stupid SPLOST simply because I don't care to run into potholes or have a bridge fall as I am crossing it. And since they are blackmailing us by saying that if it doesn't pass our property taxes will go up, I guess that 1% extra every time I buy something is better than my house payment going up (again).

FYI, Cobb County property taxes are at their lowest level in more than 25 years, and are among the lowest in the country. Maybe you'd rather they raise the heck out of our property taxes rather than trying to spread it out & include non-homeowners with a SPLOST.

Kathleen,
This brings me back to my first comments...WHY? Why are they at their lowest??? Are the banks NOT paying the taxes on the homes they have foreclosed on....my property taxes haven't gone down, my daughters didn't either and she bought their home below market...none of my friends are boasting about lowered property taxes either. There is something just not right here.
I can see the wisdom in SPLOST if.....at this point, it only covers the needs of the county. Still no comment on why we always spend so much tax money on the "Special Election" for SPLOST when it should fit in a normal election. Can you enlighten me just a little on my concerns?

Girls, girls!!! Come on!!! Wake up!!! The commissioners know that if they raise our property taxes they will not be re-elected!!! This one percent tax amounts to approximately $300-400.00 per year for a family of four. It is charged on everything including your utilities. Do you really think your property taxes would go any higher than that? Think of all the people who will shop here at the 5% tax rate. It will definitely grow our economy and there will be more jobs available especially in retail. This is the usual scare tactic... Don't panic!! That's exactly their mode of operation... The March special election date at the cost of $400,000-500,000 is timed to result in low voter turn-out in hopes of sliding it through as they've done previously. How many repairs, upgrades and renovations could be done with this amount of wasted taxpayer dollars?? The SPLOST votes should be taken during the general elections in which voter turnout is highest and most representative. The Commission admitted in a public hearing that this SPLOST is a way to cover past bad decisions made by the previous Commission of which most of them were part of. The SPLOST amount is too large and too long. The project lists have been predicated upon what to spend $492 million and not for what is actually needed. Wouldn't you rather have that extra money for things that you and your family need...$300-400.00? Special interest groups are working hard to get this SPLOST money passed again.

Since you're asking, the answer is NO...I spend that much (or more) for my children to take swim classes at the wonderful aquatic center (at HALF the cost of the YMCA)gymnastics at the center in Marietta (again at half the cost) not to mention baseball, basketball & football over the years! That has been money well spent and I intend to fight to keep it in place.
I don't buy your property tax argument either! Sure maybe an increase in property taxes would cost some commissioners there jobs BUT with no SPLOST the "other guy" might talk about lowering them, but don't bet on it happening. I don't think struggling families want to see mortgage payments go UP while they're not bringing as much in...$300 spread out over a year is less than $1 a day...you're sticking it to ROADS, PARKS, SENIOR CENTERS and PUBLIC FACILITIES for less than ONE DOLLAR a day...really? You've got to be kidding right???

The SPLOST has been mis-spent several times in the past. Where are those school laptops, by the way?
Why do we STILL have unfinished SPLOST projects from 2005? Why are some of the CURRENT PROJECTS declared as WONT BE FINISHED?

Stop letting kleptocrats masquerade as philanthropists! (quote from a Libertarian candidate for office)

The above are all arguments I've heard from anti-SPLOST.

It is *not* the penny on the dollar I resent - the financing, to me, is great! I agree with pro-SPLOSTers on that model.

My problem arrives when I am forced to stand in the middle of a road and direct traffic around a scene, and work to back each car out because my neighbor is dying from his injuries because SPLOST projects that have divided our roads did NOT INCLUDE SAFETY MEASURES like road shoulders.

I have helped to save lives as a first responder to four accidents where injuries may have been aggravated by EMS delays as a result of SPLOST construction of road dividers. The victims waited about 5 minutes longer - enough time for a brain to swell from bleeding and enough time to create fatalities.

Austell Road is *illegal* in some areas because of SPLOST. These divided roads are supposed to have safety shoulders so that traffic can pull to the side to allow EMS access.

A SPLOST project that was designed / decided upon 7 years before I moved in sealed off direct access to my house, so that my property values plummeted, my easement access rights purchased with the property are violated each day, I am given ZERO compensation, Our businesses are dying from access restrictions.

I was not notified of the Windy Hill - MacLand Connector, and commissioners swore "affected residents were notified." Bull. I wasn't notified, nor compensated for my loss of quiet enjoyment & access rights violations.

I hate to keep pointing this out but for LESS than one dollar a day per year (based on the numbers the anit-SPLOTS folks keep throwing around) that is MORE than worth it if even half the projects are completed!

@ Pam, the way gas keeps going up I'd stick to the stores closest to home and I doubt during anyone's busy life they are going to choose to go out of their way to shop to save a penny on the dollar! I think you'd be much better off saving the gas and please don't count of property taxes remaining low or homestead exemptions returning.

My mother will be supporting SPLOTS because she supports her grandkids growing up in a great community BUT she said most of the complain is coming from older people who already have VERY low property taxes...DO NOT LET PEOPLE WHO ALREADY KNOW THAT EITHER NOW OR VERY SOON THEY WONT CARE WHAT OUR PROPERTY TAXES ARE BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEIRS WILL BE LOW!!!

Don't believe the hype, be sure the people your taking advice from will be paying the same property tax rate as you...same skin in the game.

For your information our county is suffering from higher unemployment than the national average. Discontinuing the SPLOST until the 2012 election would provide a much needed tax break for struggling citizens. It would also give our commissioners more time to evaluate our needs instead of their wants. Numerous businesses ( some in other states..Vulcan Concrete of Al for one) profit from this tax and spend tens of thousands on the promotion because they know they will reap huge benefits. If you're interested in knowing who the major investors were in 2005, go to www.votenomarch15.com. Click on proponents of the SPLOST and become informed. There are design & engineering firms, Paving Companies, Road Construction, Sidewalk contractors, construction equipment firms and landscaping firms to name a few. There's gasoline tax collected for upkeep of many of our roads, our parks are in great shape for the most part, the Senior Centers are the best and the libraries have the latest technology. If you want better parks and more equipment for your children, then perhaps you can make a nice contribution to the Parks and Recreation Service. No one's sticking anyone ... other than the Commissioners to the taxpayers. It just goes to show you that if the money's there, they're going to find a way to spend it. Maybe you don't have to curtail your spending habits but most of us do. Gasoline is skyrocketing which increases the cost of everything.

@ Sarah I am not a "big business" or connected in anyway...just a Cobb County Mom BUT even I have to shake my head at your logic.

So what you're saying is we have high unemployment in Cobb (mostly in construction) BUT you want to end the very construction projects that would put residents to work because it MIGHT cost you a dollar a day??

Hmmm I'm not really following that argument; I guess if we put all the construction companies, sidewalk makes and brick layers our of business our unemployment rate would go down???

You don't care about unemployment or Cobb County, you'd let the good of YOU out weight the good of the MANY...so sad!!

@Pam what do you do for a living? I'm in HR and if you've been looking for something and I can help I'd be happy to try

Hmmmm, let me think about that one I wish there was a way to trade info that didn't leave our number or e-mail out for a thousand people...LOL

Kim
Wow!! Take a breath or two. WE ALL HAVE A STAKE IN COBB COUNTY...OLD, YOUNG, ARROGANT OR STUPID. Not just your mother.
SPLOST is being asked to be a better steward of OUR money. No more "special elections" costing us $400,000.00 when it can be properly voted on in a general election. No more "New" items, at this time. It would be nice to complete what they have started or show cause why.....projects left unfinished are wasting money. You may not mind if half the projects are completed or not, but I do.
If SPLOST fails it isn't because of people like me or my aging MOM. It's because the commissioners won't be realistic in these hard times. We all have to reign in our "wants", times are tough and we are tired of being taxed for things we can do without for a while. This isn't a hard concept.

Also, Pam there is nothing wrong with being "older" many employers see that as dependable and responsible!

I do care about unemployment. Several friends were laid off within the past year with no prospects of employment. In the past, I've been a small business owner with 5 employees in Cobb County. Have reared two respectable and educated children, who participated in all that you've mentioned. I have been out in the real world, in the line of fire. You apparently have had the privilege of being a stay at home mom and rearing your children, which is wonderful. In case you didn't notice or didn't live in the area, the construction workers were mostly illegals and some from out of state... They were not the taxpayers of Cobb County who got most of those jobs from the last SPLOST. We don't need sidewalks on busy streets or a lot of the other nonsense they've proposed. Perhaps you should spend some of this time with your family that you're spending on the computer. And by the way, I still work, am involved in my community and live in the real world. I've said my piece and you can jump up and down the rest of the night. I know what I'm talking about and you are just making assumptions and being totally off the wall.. This is a gravy train for you if you moved here from the North East... We do have the best for the least and that's the gospel!!!

@ Marlene...I agree the special election is bone headed but I'm sure politicians being how they tend to be realize as stated by a previous comment that it might not pass, and it needs to pass. Also, as I stated previously those "special interest groups" are the businesses that can put people to work and that pay sales taxes and will be paying that extra penny.
I just think it's a pipe dream to think property taxes will not go up, and in regards to the comment about Mom's taxes they are very low (because she is a Senior) so other than the benefits to her Grandkids she wouldn't care one way or the other if property taxes go up. She does use the Senior Center and takes water aerobics at the Aquatic Center too, and she did say most of the complaints she's heard are from older citizens whose property taxes (just like hers) would not rise much if SPLOST didn't pass. It's families like mine, that still have YEARS & YEARS to go, that would be hurt the most.

Sarah...My husband owns a company (and pays taxes and employees) and if you saw my comment to Pam I do happen to also have a job with one child in college three in Cobb schools. I have lived in Cobb ALL my life, so I've certainly been around. Your comment about MOSTLY illegals and out of state workers in just bunk ...but lets assume you're right.

The illegal or out of state workers or aliens from Mars will still stay here, shop here and pay the 6% sales tax. This will bring money to business and support all those projects you don't agree with but I do :) Ok I don't agree with all of them of course because that isn't ever going to happen under any plan. We just have to remember that just because a project doesn't directly effect you doesn't mean it isn't helpful to someone else. There are projects all overt the county that I'll never even see, but hopefully they help other folks.

PS...my kids are in bed, after homework and dinner, but I appreciate your concern

Kim,
Nothing like giving the green light to our politicians by okaying their high handed way of passing a new tax...there is a right and a wrong way to do this. What morals are you teaching your kids?...or what are they learning from you on honesty if this is okay by your standards. The end justifies the means?
Most of us are very tired of the politicians still trying to spend our money like we still got it.

There is nothing ILLEGIAL OR IMORAL about a special election, they're held all the time. The election is all over the news and papers so they're not running a scam or anything!! Good grief it's not immoral to position yourself to win. Now if you do that by cheating or covering something up that's different, but you cant say a kid who bunts or steals 3rd base is cheating because he set himself up to win.
This election has been heavily promoted by both sides and anyone even mildly interested cant turn out either on the 15th or I believe early voting is already underway.

Kim, I've seen you in action and you're an older woman with an agenda. What it is, I don't know but you certainly have one. You're over the top with this!!! Marlene, Pam and I have spoken the truth and you don't seem to be able to deal with that. How much are you planning to earn if this SPLOST is passed? There's something in it for you, otherwise you wouldn't be so adamant and determined in supporting the way this has been done!!! Please...don't tell me you have young children unless they're adopted. Kim is your pseudonym!! We're all intelligent adults capable of making our own decisions. I totally agree with Marlene!! It's time we stop all this bickering. We will have no choice but to support the decision of the taxpayers on March 15th.

My name IS Kim, my youngest is 8 and oldest in college, work in HR, in my mid 4o's (so maybe "older") & my husband owns a small consulting company...we will make zero financially but we hope to enjoy several projects on the list. Because I do not agree with you doesn't mean I'm getting a kick back...what a silly thing to say!

@ Pam thank you & I just feel passionate about continued improvements to our county...and that's my only agenda! If the SPLOST fails then I guess all we can do is wait, but I'm not going to riot or anything. I know conversation concerning our kids (balanced schedule) and this bill have a very strong pull, but when they fail (balanced calendar) I accept the outcome and work for change! Thanks everyone for enduring my strong opinions...my husbands had to for it for 25 years ;)