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SPLOST Steve Swope
October 11, 2017
SPLOST Steve Swope
Dear Chamber Member,
As a longtime Coweta citizen, I am grateful for the excellent financial stewardship shown by the leadership of our county government. We have a very high quality of life here in Coweta County, and it has been accomplished without excess taxation. I believe the Commission and our county employees deserve a lot of credit for this accomplishment.
Any great community has four key characteristics: 1) it is safe, 2) transportation systems evolve and are well maintained, 3) its citizens have access to outdoor recreation, and 4) the community is diverse and interesting. Today, Coweta County meets all of those characteristics, but continued investment and work are required to maintain a great community.
As a citizen, I have a very serious concern. As you are probably aware, the continuation of the one percent Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, or SPLOST, is on the November 7 ballot. This is not a new tax but simply a continuation of a tax that has existed since 1985. I believe this tax has greatly benefited us in several ways. First, the money collected by the county through SPLOST is provided not only by our citizens but also by the many citizens of other counties who regularly shop here in Coweta. Second, SPLOST funds cannot be used for ordinary operating costs. The money collected is used for Capital Expenses, and historically over 90 % of those funds have been directed toward transportation, public safety and recreational facilities. Finally, taxation of our citizens with SPLOST is not only equitable but also provides a lower overall tax for our citizens.
Earlier this year at one of our county commission meetings, I asked what the near-term impact on the millage rate would be if SPLOST did not pass and we wished to continue investing in our community so that it doesn’t become like Gwinnett, DeKalb or Cobb counties. I was told that an increase of a little more than three mills would be required. To explain that in dollars and cents, consider that the average home in our county is worth about $178,000. The tax computation is done by taking that value, multiplying it by 40% and subtracting the $10,000 Homestead Exemption. That means the taxable amount on an average home is right around $61,000. A three-mill increase in property tax would come to $183 per year (3 dollars per thousand or 3 x 61). To pay an equal amount in SPLOST tax, a Coweta citizen would have to spend $18,300 per year in shops and restaurants in the county (18,300 x 1% = 183). That is a whopping $352 per week for 52 consecutive weeks! I doubt that many of us spend that much, although our local merchants would be delighted if we did. It should be pointed out that citizens do not pay the SPLOST on the purchase of automobiles or homes. SPLOST is simply the cheapest way for us to continue to invest wisely in our county.
If we desire to continue to live in a great community, our choice is clear. We have the choice of either a substantial increase in the millage rate, which will impact all property owners (or those who rent from them), or we can have a SPLOST which will be a lower overall tax on each of us and will allow citizens of other counties to help pay for our infrastructure, our roads and our public safety.
I have made my choice. I will be voting “Yes” to SPLOST on November 7, and I encourage all of my fellow citizens to do so as well.
Best regards,
Steve Swope
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