Will 4-Year Cobb SPLOST Be Enough?

For the second time in as many weeks, the proposed 2011 Cobb Special Option Local Sales Tax extension has been pared down by a year—to a four-year, $492 million total. 

But the most vocal opponents of a longer-term SPLOST have indicated even that might not be enough to pass their muster. 

All of which figures to increase pressure on the Cobb Board of Commissioners as it is set to vote Tuesday—or perhaps not—on whether to place a SPLOST referendum before voters. 

The commissioners have twice-delayed their decision because of proposal revisions and increased objections from Tea Party and taxpayer groups, who believe large chunks of the wish list contain non-essential items.

The four-year limit was cited by Northeast Cobb commissioner Thea Powell and Bob Ott, her East Cobb counterpart, as necessary to earn their support.

If the original suggested referendum date of March 2011 is to remain, the commission would have to vote by next Thursday. 

The possibility of delaying a vote until next year was raised Tuesday by Northwest Cobb commissioner Helen Goreham, worried that a defeated referendum would put the county in meeting long-term improvements needs. 

Gone from the five-year SPLOST issued last weekend are further cuts to county parks projects, including the exclusion of artificial fields, a topic cited frequently by SPLOST critics during Tuesday's public hearing as an example of county leaders not being able to distinguish "wants from needs."