Ballot questions

In addition to the three proposed constitutional amendments that will appear on every ballot, voters in Hall and surrounding counties will also be asked to vote on several other special election questions relevant to their county. Binding questions require local governments to act in accordance with what the majority of voters choose. Nonbinding questions are used to gather public opinion. Following is a list of those questions, worded as they will appear on ballots. Each has only a "yes" or "no" vote.

Question 1 (binding): Shall the Act be approved which amends the Hall County school district homestead exemptions for senior citizens by allowing any person who is 62 to 70 years of age who receives the first exemption to automatically receive the second exemption upon reaching 70 years of age?

Question 2 (nonbinding): Shall the governing authority of Hall County, Georgia authorize the Tax Commissioner of Hall County to collect the payment of ad valorem taxes on tangible property, other than motor vehicles, in two installments instead of one payment for the total amount of the tax due?

Question 1 (binding): Shall the Act be approved that changes the form of government in Banks County from a three member commission to a five member commission with four members elected countywide but who must reside and qualify within a commissioner district and a chairperson elected countywide who shall be a full voting member of the board?

Question 1 (binding): Shall the Act be approved which provides a homestead exemption from Dawson County ad valorem taxes for county purposes in the amount of $60,000 of the assessed value of the homestead for residents of that county who are disabled or who are 65 years of age or older and whose income does not exceed $50,000?

Question 2 (binding): Shall the Act be approved which provides a homestead exemption from Dawson County school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes in the amount of $60,000 of the assessed value of the homestead for residents of that school district who are disabled or who are 65 years of age or older and whose income does not exceed $50,000?

Question 1 (binding): Shall there be issued up to $75,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of Forsyth County general obligation bonds for the purpose of financing the acquisition, construction and equipping of a jail?

Questions 2 (binding): Shall there be issued up to $16,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of Forsyth County general obligation bonds for the purpose of financing the acquisition, construction and equipping of a facility to house the sheriff’s headquarters?

Question 1 (binding): Shall the Act be approved which amends the current homestead exemption from Jackson County school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes for persons who are 65 years of age or over and whose net income, excluding certain retirement incomes, does not exceed $18,000, by increasing the exemption amount from $20,000 to $40,000?

Question 1 (binding): Shall the Act be approved which provides a homestead exemption from Lumpkin County ad valorem taxes for county purposes in the amount of $60,000 of the assessed value of the homestead for residents of that county who are 65 years of age or older or who are disabled?

Question 2 (binding): Shall the Act be approved which provides a homestead exemption from Lumpkin County school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes in the amount of $120,000 of the assessed value of the homestead for residents of that school district who are 65 years of age or older or who are disabled?

Question 1 (binding): Shall a continuation of a special one percent (1%) sales and use tax (SPLOST) be imposed in White County for a period not to exceed five calendar years beginning upon the termination of the existing SPLOST presently in effect, and for the purpose of raising not more than a total of $26,000,000 of net proceeds, which shall provide for the following capital outlay projects:

(1) Water and wastewater infrastructure and the acquisition, either by construction or purchase, of administrative, police, and fire facilities in the city of Cleveland;

(2) Roads, streets, sidewalks and bridges; water/wastewater improvements; and public buildings and grounds in the city of Helen.

(3) The acquisition, either by construction or purchase of: Public facilities and infrastructure including, but not limited to, administrative, cultural, park and recreation and public safety; and roads and bridges in White County.

Question 2 (binding): Shall the Act be approved which changes the governing authority of White County to a five member board with a chairperson elected at large and four commissioners elected by the voters in each of four new commissioner districts?

Question 3 (binding): Shall the Act be approved which provides that beginning Jan. 1, 2011, the county commissioners shall be paid a salary equal to 20 percent of the minimum salary established for the sheriff of White County and the chairperson of the county commission shall be paid a salary equal to 25 percent of the minimum salary established for the sheriff?

Question 4 (binding): Shall the local constitutional amendment be repealed which provides for the election of the members of the Board of Education of White County and establishes education districts by militia districts so that such matters may be changed and modernized by local law?

Question 5 (binding): Shall the Act be approved which provides that the homestead exemption from White County ad valorem taxes in an amount up to $15,000 of the homesteads of persons age 65 and older shall henceforth be available to those whose income does not exceed $15,000, excluding retirement, survivor or disability benefits?

Question 6 (binding): Shall the White County Board of Commissioners provide for Land Use Management in the unicorporated areas of White County?

Question 7 (binding): Shall the White County Board of Commissioners provide for the sale of beer and wine in the unicorporated areas of White County?