TSPLOST remains scheduled for July

ATLANTA — Next year’s T-SPLOST referendum will be in July after all.

Gov. Nathan Deal on Wednesday announced “a joint decision with House and Senate leadership to suspend further consideration of legislation to move the date for T-SPLOST referendum,” his office said in a news release.

Lawmakers were looking at whether to change the date of a vote on the proposed TSPLOST, which would levy a 1-cent tax on residents of Metro Atlanta and cover the costs of a slew of transportation projects. The vote is scheduled for July 2012, but some lawmakers and business leaders sought to move the vote to November 2012 to coincide with the general election.

“We’ve had a healthy debate on the T-SPLOST referendum date here at the Gold Dome,” Deal said in a news release.

“I’m a supporter of the referendum, and I believe it’s important to job creation and economic development throughout Georgia,” Deal said. “I further believe that it is a sound conservative principle to allow as many taxpayers as possible to participate in this important decision. Our time during this special session, however, is precious, and it’s now obvious that it will take too much time to reach a consensus on changing the date. It’s best for taxpayers that we not let this special session drag on. Redistricting was our priority, and we have delivered a great product.”