NOTE: Letters addressing Tuesday's special purpose local option sales tax vote will run through Saturday. Letters on this topic must be received by noon Friday and confirmed in time for Saturday publication.
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I see my good friend, Jimmy Echols, has come out in opposition to the new Hall County School SPLOST. I am in complete agreement with him. The Buford school share is outrageous and should be referred to as ransom.
But the main reason for my opposition is future SPLOSTs. If the school SPLOST is approved, Hall County will be a 7 percent sales tax county. In July 2012, another new SPLOST will be on the ballot, this one for transportation. Every government entity in Georgia including state and local education is lining up to bludgeon you into voting yes. Then Hall County will be taking 8 percent from you.
There are two other sales tax issues on the horizon. One, the state legislature is considering adding food as a taxable item (4 percent). You won't get to vote on that.
Two, a new SPLOST for water and sewer is available to counties and municipalities. All told, in a few years you could be paying sales tax totaling 9 percent for your food, clothing, gasoline, furniture and whatever else your needs may be.
Be assured. I will be spending elsewhere. It's time to say no to SPLOSTs.
Bruce W. Hallowell
Clarkesville