The outcome of Tuesday’s $166 million 6 year Special Purpose Local Option Sale Tax (SPLOST) and 12 year bond referendum is expected to be determined by 10% or less of Douglas County’s 67,000 registered voters according voting officials.

Advocates on both sides of the issue have made an effort to inform voters from their prospective and encourage voter participation.

Two pro-SPLOST advocates Jimmy Haddle and Kip Berry formed the Douglas County Citizens for Fair Taxes (not to be confused with www.fairtax.org), in an effort to promote the governments position.

The Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce announced its support for the tax, but its 800-plus members did not vote on the matter.

A group of 21 recreation business owners called Citizens for Responsible Taxation formed a coalition to oppose the SPLOST/YMCA project being proposed by the city of Douglasville. These businesses feel the $17 million YMCA facility project will undermine private enterprise and result in unfair competition with local businesses that pay taxes and employee workers.

Local political party leaders have mixed opinions about SPLOST.

Douglas County Republican Party chairman Ricky Roland said the GOP is neutral on the issue and will not take a position. “We don’t feel it’s a Republican or Democratic issue,” he said Friday to the Sentinel newspaper. It should be noted however, that most of the elected officials who proposed this tax are GOP members.

Democrat Party leader Martin Raxton announced Thursday that his party opposes the SPLOST because of the proposed $130 million jail. Raxton said there are some good projects on the SPLOST but they do not see a need to build a jail the size being proposed.

Freddie Ashmon, the only elected Democrat Party member on the board of commissioners is supporting the SPLOST, contrary to his pre-election position. Ashmon said prior to his election in 2006 that he opposed the SPLOST tax and jail proposal, drawing enough votes to win the seat. Post election, Ashmon said he would only support about one third of the cost of the proposed jail. After being sworn in, in January, he changed his position in favor of a $130 million, 2500 bed prison complex.

Libertarian Party Chairman Kevin Cherry said his party opposes the SPLOST on many grounds. “We encourage our supporters to vote “NO”. We feel this SPLOST proposal is full of pork projects that are not needed by our county”, said Cherry. “We are also concerned about the legalities of the bond proposal. The SPLOST is a 6 year proposal; the bond is for 12 years. The only way the loans can be paid back is with increased property taxes or passing another SPLOST in 6 years”, Cherry continued. “We want to cut spending and lower taxes, not threaten taxpayers with future tax increases.”

Cherry received over 1400 votes in Douglas County in his 2006 bid for the district 5 PSC seat.

Douglas County Taxpayer Coalition (DCTC) director James Bell, who has led the SPLOST opposition, said he believes the vote will be close. “We have placed many thousands of fliers around the county in an effort to notify the public”, said Bell. “Our goal was to increase voter participation to over 10%.” www.DouglasTaxes.com

Bell points out that SPLOST votes are held on special elections because officials know that low voter turn outs help in the passage of SPLOST. Bell said in counties where SPLOST votes have failed, there was organized opposition to it.

“We have built a true coalition of Republican, Democrats, Libertarians and independent minded people to fight this tax. Taxation affects us all. We believe this will be a close race within one-two hundred votes. Every vote will count”, Bell said

On September 18, polls will be open in all precincts from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The 2006 photo voter ID law will be in effect for the first time ever. Voters will have to show one of six acceptable photo identifications.

Acceptable ID’s include:

Any valid state or federal government issued photo ID, including a free voter ID card issued by the county registrar’s office or the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS); a Georgia driver’s license, even if expired; valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency or entity of the U.S. Government, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, authority or other entity of this state; valid U.S. passport ID; valid U.S. military photo ID; or valid Native American tribal photo ID.

For more information on where you must vote contact elections superintendent Bob Akers (770) 920-7326 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or visit the Georgia Secretary of State’s Poll locator at, http://sos.georgia.gov/cgi-bin/locator.asp .