The Cobb Department of Transportation has announced the first public information meetings for the Cobb Mobility SPLOST, the proposed 30-year transit tax that’s up for a referendum vote in November.
What it’s calling “MSPLOST talks” will take place at four Cobb library branches on Wednesday, Sept. 18, from 5-7 p.m.
The locations include the Mountain View Regional Library (3320 Sandy Plains Road).
Cobb DOT said the meetings are open houses and will have no formal presentations. Other locations will be at the Smyrna, North Cobb and Stratton library branches at the same time.
“Drop in to learn about the proposed initiatives, ask questions, and share your thoughts on how MSPLOST funds will be utilized to benefit our community,” Cobb DOT said Thursday in a social media posting.
Under state law, government agencies cannot advocate a position on a referendum vote.
But Cobb commissioners have approved a $287,000 contract with Kimley-Horn, an Atlanta consulting firm, to provide what’s called “educational” information and resources about the proposed tax, including holding public meetings.
Last week, Cobb DOT unveiled its MSPLOST website and is expected to hold further public meetings to be announced.
The tax, if approved by voters in the Nov. 5 general election, would collect one percent of sales tax to fund expanded bus services, transfer stations and related services and facilities, for a total of $11 billion.
Currently Cobb consumers pay six cents’ worth of sales taxes, including SPLOSTs (Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax) for Cobb government and schools.
Among the projects that would be funded with the transit tax is the construction of a bus transfer station in the Roswell-Johnson Ferry Road area and the restoration of two bus routes through East Cobb that were eliminated during recession budget cuts.
A group leading opposition to the tax, the Cobb Taxpayers Association, has scheduled its campaign kickoff event in East Cobb on Sept. 14.
Related:
- Cobb transit tax opponents to hold campaign kickoff event
- Cobb launches transit tax website for November referendum
- Waterfront Drive closed temporarily for relocation work
- No parking zone established along portion of Clubland Drive
- Cobb approves $7M Lower Roswell Road project
- Cobb voters to decide transit sales tax in November referendum
- East Piedmont Road lane closures in effect due to sewer repairs
- Cobb adopts new policy for traffic-calming in neighborhoods
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I’d happily fund running buses on the proposed routes 10x per day for 3 yrs to see if there is actually any demand. Do that first. Definitely don’t build “transit centers” when there’s no proven need for them. Seems like someone wants to force more “budget” under their control to lift their self-importance.
Asking for 30 yrs of taxation without showing any need is just crazy.
Notice they avoid town halls where citizens can show their outrage at the 65,000 dollar cost per family of four this tax will amount to over 30 years. They don’t want to explain why every ride for the next thirty years will be subsidized by almost 100 tax dollars or more for this 14.5 Billion dollar boondoggle. They also don’t want to hear complaints about 108 miles of roads torn up and widened and the business forced to relocate or go under due to the road widening for busses. Finally, they don’t want to hear that the ridership numbers they put out are pure pie in the sky projections with no basis in reality.