It’s something to celebrate! Commerce in Douglas County Georgia will get a little more affordable July 1^st due to the expiration of a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (S.P.L.O.S.T.). Voters rejected the continuation of the SPLOST last July by a vote of 53 to 47 percent.

The 2002 SPLOST, which will end June 30, became an issue of controversy after massive overruns on the Boundary Waters Aquatic Center drove the project from $3 million to nearly $10 million and an audit commissioned by the board of commissioners concluded the public was "mislead" about how the tax money was to be spent.

Over the next six years, county officials estimate a new SPLOST would generate more than $166 million. Because voters rejected the tax last year, $166 million will go back into the pockets of consumers to spend or save as they see fit.

James Bell, director of Douglas County Taxpayers Coalition (DCTC) said lower taxes will make Douglas County more competitive in the market place and give consumers more cash to spend which will generate even more tax revenue.

"Lower taxes stimulates the economy", Bell said. "Over the next 6 years, we will be able to put $166 million back into our pockets and the economy."

Bell said the reduction of the sales tax to 6 percent will bring Douglas inline with Cobb County and allow local merchants to compete on big ticket items.

The current 7 percent sales tax consists of 4 percent state tax, one percent education tax, one percent local tax and one percent special tax.

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