August 21, 2007: The Douglas County Taxpayers Coalition (DCTC) will be on the streets Friday August 24 in an effort to notify voters and the public of the up coming Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) vote September 18, 2007 as part of their “Get Out The Vote” Campaign.

Anti-SPLOST activists will gather at the corner of Chapel Hill Road and Douglas Boulevard from 4:00 to 7:00 pm with signs saying “VOTE “NO” TAX – SEPT 18”.

The proposed tax, if approved, is expected to bring in more than $200 million over 6 years. But the bond debt will be for 12 years costing more than $80 million in interest and fees. After the 6 years, the remaining cost of the SPLOST projects would have to be covered by an increase in property taxes or by blackmailing voters into voting for another 6 year SPLOST if they don’t want to see their property taxes escalate.

Commission Chairman Tom Worthan has already threatened taxpayers with increasing property taxes.

DCTC contends the county’s plan gives tens of millions of tax dollars to bankers that could have been saved or used to improve roads and other needed projects

Brad Forschner, DCTC’s communications director, said the street demonstrations were very effective during the 2006 SPLOST which was overwhelming defeated.

“We’ve learned that few voters are aware of the tax vote so we’ll take the information to the voters”, said Forschner. “By holding signs on the street corners tens of thousands of citizens get a reminder to vote. Most of the motorists are coming home from a long work week and a friendly reminder that they can vote no against more taxes seems to be effective. Most voters feel our taxes are too high. Our goal is to get them to vote”, Forschner explained.

James Bell, director of DCTC, said signs and placards have been used through out social reform movements to get a message out to the public.

“It’s like being a town crier yelling “Hear ye, Hear ye”, Bell said. “We feel the public should be automatically notified by our government when a tax vote is called. They could use our water bills or tax bills to send out notices as to when and why a tax or bond vote was called.”

Bell said our tax dollars are use to place large SPLOST signs in front SPLOST projects to promote the use of SPLOST. He contends the legislature should require signs be places around a community informing voters of a tax or bond vote.

DCTC’s goal is to drive more voters to the polls to vote NO on this tax increase. Only 5-8% of registered voters are expected to vote. Five percent of voters in Douglas County represents only about 3000 voters.

DCTC’s message to the public is; if you don’t vote the tax will pass! DCTC invites the public to participate in their “Get out the Vote” campaign.

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