Democrats and Republicans don’t agree on much these days but in Habersham County party leaders are united in their opposition to a tax increase.
Habersham County’s Republican Party Chair Carl Blackburn and Democratic Chair Virginia Webb today released a joint statement voicing their opposition to the county’s proposed Transportation Special Local Option Sales Tax. The tax, which was placed on the ballot by the county commission as a means to pay for roads and bridges, would add a penny tax to every dollar spent in the county.
United in opposition
“The Habersham County GA Democrats and the Habersham County Republican Party are in agreement in their opposition to the new 2018 T-SPLOST tax which would raise the current sales tax paid in Habersham County by 14.3%,” the statement reads. “This new sales tax would raise the total sales tax rate to 8 cents and unlike some of the existing sales taxes already in place, no items would be exempt from this new tax. This tax would apply to groceries (currently exempt from some sales taxes already in place), phone bills, gas bills, water bills, etc.”
In their joint statement, which you can read in full here, Blackburn and Webb caution that the current ad campaign promoting the tax is misleading. “Ads in The Northeast Georgian and on radio stations WCHM and WCON, paid for by a group calling itself ‘Investing in Habersham’, make false and misleading statements and representations,” they say.
They point to a county report they say indicates that none of the county’s bridges require “immediate structural repairs.” They also challenge tax proponents’ selling point that visitors to Habersham County make up 40% of the sales tax revenues being collected.
“Habersham County Manager Phil Sutton has stated that there were NO such report or reports verifying this number or any number stating what the real percentage of sales taxes collected from visitors to Habersham County and that he has no idea what the actual percentage is,” Blackburn and Webb say. “While we concede that visitors do pay some sales taxes, we can guarantee that 100% of people living in Habersham County pay sales taxes and would pay this tax increase if passed.”
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Blackburn and Webb also question the county’s claims that it needs additional funding to adequately maintain roads and bridges. They argue matching funds from the Georgia Department of Transportation and revenue from the state gas sales tax should offset the need for a local tax increase.
Roads, bridges and…airport?
Another major point of contention is the $2 million from the proposed T-SPLOST slated for the Habersham County Airport. The local party Chairs argue the airport serves less than .05% of the county population and question why taxpayers should shoulder the burden for a facility that serves so few county residents. They also question the county’s argument that, if the T-SPLOST doesn’t pass, county property taxes will have to be raised. “The County just increased their budget for 2018/2019 by approximately $2,600,000 funded by an increase in the millage rate of 8.56%. Do we really need another tax increase after just having our taxes raised this year?”
Both Blackburn and Webb warn that passing T-SPLOST could jeopardize renewal of SPLOST (VII) in 2020. “The County most likely will need to pay for a new Habersham County Detention Center by then, a project we both whole heartily support!” their joint release states.
They conclude by saying the proposed T-SPLOST will “adversely affect Habersham County residents who can least afford to pay more taxes, the elderly, the poor and small business owners.” They add, “While the County and ‘Investing in Habersham’ all scream that this is a Fair Tax and it spreads the burden off the backs of tax payers, these individuals and companies will be hit the hardest.”
Editor’s Note: After this article was posted, Invest in Habersham Chairman Brian Horton responded. Read his full response here.
