Voters: No tax hike for transportation in Metro Atlanta
ATLANTA – There’s a new city in DeKalb County, but Metro Atlanta won’t see additional funds for roads.
“This has been a campaign for the text books – a hard-fought engagement on both sides,” Traffic Truth said in a statement. “The tax proponents raised over $8 million; the grassroots raised far less.
“…The voters have spoken with a resounding ‘no confidence’ vote in our state leadership,” the group said. “While Georgians overwhelmingly agree we have a transportation problem, Georgians clearly decided to take politics and politicians out of the equation to avoid wasting hard earned tax dollars.”
In Metro Atlanta, 62.4 percent of voters cast ballots against the TSPLOST.
“The voters of Georgia have spoken, and I will continue to do what I have done since I became governor: Work in consultation with state transportation leaders, legislators and local officials to establish our priority projects, Gov. Nathan Deal said in a statement. “There will be belt-tightening. It’s certainly disappointing that we won’t have the resources to accomplish all the projects needed to get Georgians moving quicker, but it does force state officials, including myself, to focus all our attention on our most pressing needs.”
In other high profile races Tuesday:
– Brookhaven will be Metro Atlanta’s newest city after 55 percent of voters said yes to incorporation.
– In a non-binding question, 50.3 percent of Republicans said Georgia should have casino gambling with funds going to education.
– Incumbents Chuck Eaton and Stan Wise hung on in Republican primaries for a pair of Public Service Commission primaries. Eaton now faces Democrat Stephen Oppenheimer in the Democratic primary.
– In Cobb County, Commission Chairman Tim Lee is headed to a runoff against Bill Byrne after neither candidate picked up a majority of votes in a four-way race.
– In Clayton County, Sheriff Kem Kimbrough is headed to a runoff with former Sheriff Victor Hill.
– In Fulton County, Sheriff Ted Jackson won a five-way race outright.
– In the 9th Congressional District, Doug Collins and Martha Zoller are headed to a runoff on the Republican side. The winner will face Democrat Jody Cooley.
– In the 12th Congressional District, Lee Anderson and Rick Allen are headed to a runoff on the Republican side. The winner will face Democrat John Barrow, an incumbent Republicans have made a target during this year’s election.
