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A Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce full page advertisement in the Forsyth County news on June 8, 2008, congratulated the city and four county commissioners for reaching an agreement that gave the city $12.5 million more than county voters approved in the February “SPLOST VI/Green Space Bond” vote.  The ad even emphasized that it was better to give the city most of that $12.5 million anyway.  Hogwash! 

The ad advanced the notion that there would be serious consequences if there was a lapse in the county SPLOST collections.  A position in which the Chamber apparently finds comfort now that it is on the side of the mayor receiving more county funds.  The ad also boasted about the many politicians who supported the county give-away.

Where were the Chamber and the politicians when the mayor’s “VOTE NO” SPLOST committee was urging county citizens to defeat the SPLOST VI vote and terminate SPLOST collections?  At that time the Chamber issued no public warnings, nor even publically supported a “yes” SPLOST VI vote.

The city’s SPLOST VI rant has now resulted in the city receiving about 10 percent from the county instead of the 4.29 percent share we approved in our “SPLOST VI/Green Space Bond” vote.

I strongly believe the county made a mistake by not appealing Judge Stone’s technicality decision in favor of the city.  That may or may not have resulted in some delay of SPLOST VI collections.  The delay could have been as long as nine months, but it might also have been zero or a time period of less than nine months.  Of course, a delay would also have reduced the sales tax burden on county citizens.

The city has too long received large unfair shares of the county LOST, SPLOST and water supply revenues.  The county had an opportunity to finally do it right and establish a new reasonable precedent for the city’s share, but the county blew it.