August 1, 2007- Douglas County GA: Douglas County Taxpayers Coalition (DCTC) commends the Douglas County Board of Commissioners (BOC) for holding the line on property tax millage rates. But, the group says it’s disappointed in the Douglas County Board of Education (BOE) and the city of Douglasville for not rolling back rates and called the move “greedy".

Merchants Still Charging 7%

July 2, 2007 - Douglas County GA: July 1, 2007 sales tax in Douglas County dropped from 7 percent to 6 percent thanks to voters rejecting the 2006 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) renewal. However, businesses are still charging 7 percent claiming they were never notified by the state of the change.

James Bell, director of Douglas County Taxpayers Coalition (DCTC), conducted a spot check of retail business that revealed merchants were still charging 7 percent sales tax.

"You can build these capitol projects with SPLOST dollars but you have to maintain and operate those projects with general fund dollars." Tom Worthan 08/01/06

Special Interest Groups Push SPLOST Projects

June 28, 2007- Douglas County, Georgia: The Douglas County Taxpayers Coalition (DCTC) said it's ready to mount a "Get Out the Vote" campaign against the September 18, 2007, $166 million, plus bond interest, Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) referendum.

James Bell, director of DCTC, said opposition to this massive spending proposal is growing. Bell points out that voters overwhelmingly rejected the 2006 SPLOST. Voters are upset with county officials who relentlessly seek more tax dollars. Bell said taxpayers need immediate relief and should vote against this sales tax.

Douglas County Georgia – March 7, 2007: The tax group, Douglas County Taxpayers Coalition (DCTC) said today it plans to challenge the ballot language of the March 20 General Obligation School Bond Referendum for $150 million.

James Bell, director of DCTC, said the ballot language may be illegal because it offers opinion and panders to a specific group of voters to vote “yes” rather than asking the bond question out right. Bell said contrary to the ballot language there have been no “revenue shortfalls”. In fact revenues have been at an all time record high.

“We are concerned that the Douglas County Board of Education has stepped over the line in its attempt to sell this bond debt to the voters,” Bell said. “If this bond passes we may seek the courts opinion as to the legalities of the language.