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People must love giving their income to our Government. It is $500 per family for each SPLOT Tax that each family will pay. That is a $1000.00 per year between both SPLOTS and if the T-SPLOT make it next year yet another $500 per year. And to make matters worse the Jail and Court House will cost about 150 million and they are an “A project”. So the County will raise our Property Tax to make up the differences.

T-SPLOST won't be passing unless or until improvements to the greater-span of State Hwy. 20 are included, and the only things I've seen listed to-date are the three "Intersection Improvements" to that dumb-assed dog-leg dead-center of Cumming Proper, and that dog don't hunt!

The kind of thru-traffic experienced today is rediculous enough...now include local-traffic projected of the newly-approved Courthouse, Sheriffs Office, and Jail facillity...I see only idiocy in continuing the directing of Tractor-Trailer Thru-traffic throughout the heart of the City of Cumming.

$$$ spent from any T-SPLOST benefitting Cumming should've rather included a by-pass of 4-lanes w/median improvements...AFTER running as-such througout the entire span of Hwy. 20 between I-75 & I-85...making all of what CENTs they'll garner to spend well worth it to "Pass"!

('Till then it's as "dead" as the Northern Arc ; )

504 people voted to put debt and tax on their fellow citizens. 3.8% of the population just did this to their fellow citizens.

Welcome to the mobocracy folks. We no longer live in a representative republic. The group will do to another what the individual would never do.

We clean out the Socialists next year.

.....next year OBAMA will win. I said to my friends, if SPLOST passes Obama will win next time. I am sure of it.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FORSYTH COUNTY citizens. LOOSERS.....

Jack, you make a substantial point. Now that SPLOST has been passed and the courthouse and jail will become reality, the time has come for the city and county to get serious about a Cumming bypass route that will redirect GA Hwy 20. If you are going to center the county and city government at the courthouse square, then a serious look at a bypass route will need to take place.

Much of the daily traffic is pass through and you can still mix development at the square with the government buildings and commerce, but nothing will be successful until you A) fix the pass through route of Hwy 20; B) redevelop the left over commercial buildings; and C) spur business growth in the city center by offering economic incentives for locating in downtown Cumming. I understand that it is cheaper to operate a small business outside the city than inside the city. This should be one set cost for both the city and county.

There will never be a Cumming bypass as long as there is a Mayor Gravitt.

Just sayin'!

I tend to agree David. I am just saying that it needs a serious look IF we really want the downtown area to have some commercial activity. The mix development can be done and succeed, as long as having a bypass done. It takes serious leadership and I agree someone else holding down the mayor's office. He's up again in two years and it's time someone give him a serious challenge.

Cannot wait to see your taxes here in Forsyth go up and up and up. I moved out of here today. I will watch my predictions come true. Loosers beyond loosers. RAISE MY TAXES FOR WHAT? I will never buy another thing here. Which means, this county of loosers will loose about $300.00 from me a year. YOU Vote like democrats and OBAMA WILL BE OUR PRESIDENT FOR ANOTHER 4 YRS. Mark my words people. I guarantee it. Eddie Good Knight.

The taxpayers of Forsyth County are waking up. If you look closely at the totals this was a referendum and the Commissioner, Sheriff Paxton, and Mayor Gravitt lost.

Todd Levent, District 3 lost every precinct in his district. Jim Boff lost two of his largest precincts; Amos was on a 10% win margin as well as Bell. Tam lost one precinct and only won his home precinct and two others by 25% margins. These were precincts where the fake E SPLOST signs were located and few if any attempts to educate the public took place.

The Commissioners, Sheriff and Gravitt are governing against the will of the people. Taxpayers and citizens realize these men; Patrick Bell, Brian Tam, Pete Amos, Jim Boff, Todd Levent, Sheriff Paxton and Mayor Gravitt are radical and extreme in their governance.

Forsyth County does not need radical and extreme people in elected positions.

To "Thank You Forsyth" -

Thank-you for moving out of Forsyth. You might have a point, but it is lost in your inability to spell correctly. You are truly one of the dumb masses.

Hopefully someone will move into your house or apartment that actually knows how to spell.

I doubt we will miss your $300. Just go to Avenue Forsyth and look at the license plates of the folks from Gwinnett, Cobb, Fulton, Dawson, Lumpkin, Hall (and more) counties spending their money and sales tax here in Forsyth.

We will be laughing all the way to the bank.

I am glad about the results, yes the taxes are raised a bit, but its worth it to build more infrastructure. Example - build a new jail please and stop spending fuel and added housing cost to transport forsyth inmmates back and forth to other counties.

It's revealed, a hidden strategy, run by oligarchs, who using the machinery of government, surreptitiously siphoning off the wealth of the people of Forsyth County under the 'color' and guise of capitalism, which in reality is croney capitalism. And Ken along with CJ762mm are a threat to our society. The whole country is in shambles and Forsyth is not? Forclosure rate is the highest in the state.

Forsyth County is not corrupt. We only vote for tax hikes and crooked officials. Myy spelling is off tonight cause I have no idea what is going on in the minds of the DUMB MASSES who vote for more jails in this country. We have kids in jail on traffic issues and prescription pills. Don't address these issues cause it might be the truth. That is what I predicted. Do nothing people get what they deserve. Dave Richard and Gary Cooper "Coop" . Bent of mind, is a mental issue and the republicans here are just that. BENT OF MIND. Not here in Forsyth county. Only across the nation of idiots. We are done and Obama WILL be reelected for your information. Raise the TAXES and destroy our country Forsyth people you have just lost it all. I promise you that. 2012 we are done and put your head between your legs and prey if you are allowed to do that without regulations executed by our county Sheriff from Obama. WE ARE DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow...so much drama extrapolated over the literal PENNY-ADDED -- not really "Added" for the fact it's simply remianing in-situ -- that even most "Penny-Pinchers" would consider "Chump-Change"!

Coupla' reality checks People:

The concept of a "Free-County" isn't congruent with that of a "Free-Ride" for the fact that it well-will cost something to administer for what Level of Service (LOS) that "Freedom" becomes served-up.

The cost of administering this "Democratic Republic" is more than that of other forms of Government, so to be worth that cost it must procure a Level Of Service (LOS) commensurate the Quality of Life the Electorate desires...and The People who will speak have spoken!

Guddaye!

No one mentioned that the major result of this election was that 13.67% of the registered voters decided for the 150,000 residents that it would pass. Sentiment for those who cared was split right down the middle. Elections like these are held in off years, because the turnout will be light. And that increases the chance of difficult issues passing. The ayes won barely; the nays should realize that if they had gone door to door and worked a little harder, and called friends and neighbors and encouraged them to go to the polls, perhaps the tide would have tilted in their favor. Until the laws change, convicted criminals should be in jail, and it made no sense to keep paying for them to be transported to other counties to be incarcerated. This issue should have been resolved a decade ago. Now it will be, and let's resolve to hold the line on taxes, everywhere we see them. The frog dies slowly as the heat is turned up to boiling; that's what happens to taxpayers when we're not vigilant.

I quote Bill Evelyn:

"The Commissioners, Sheriff and Gravitt are governing against the will of the people. Taxpayers and citizens realize these men; Patrick Bell, Brian Tam, Pete Amos, Jim Boff, Todd Levent, Sheriff Paxton and Mayor Gravitt are radical and extreme in their governance."

He also portends that what We All want NOW is "Less Government" that's more effective and responsive to not just those "Voting", but to ALL "The People"...with such prudence dictating perhaps NOW is the perfect time to consider merging the City of Cumming with Forsyth County!

It's cause emanated from the very conditions stated -- not the least of which was people not getting a commensurate return on what they're paying for in terms of representation and services -- and We've yet to fracture the likes of North Fulton County, ie; Johns Creek, Sandy Springs, Milton, etc., for it?

Yet at least, as its evoloution continues today for those working toward the re-animation of Milton County...further of that, visualize the several precincts of South Forsyth joining the City of Johns Creek...as Milton County re-animates?!?

Consider thus today:

1. Regionally, what influence such (local) "Unity" procures in terms of Our political standing...perhaps not the least of which apparent, construed, and realized divisiveness between the City of Cumming and Forsyth County only negatively effects whatever perspectives A.C.E. may consider, as Population-Base AND Riparian Water Rights become an impact-component factor in the upcomming re-negotiations/renewal of anyones -- including Gainsville and Buford -- "Water Withdrawal Permit"?

2. Locally, the rediculous duplication of Infrastructure and Services -- perpetually evolving for "Growth" -- within the finitely small areas construed of BOTH the City of Cumming and Forsyth County proper?

Surely then, the ensuing arguments of what to (operationally) keep-where could only be considered "Productive"...just as surely as "United We Stand, Divided We Fall" is a bed-rock truism.

Perhaps in the endeavor of creating a "Perfect World" we could unite...in-situ otherwise, "Merge" is a dirty-word, as I've respectfully asked most of those "Principals" of which you've spoken, including the good Mayor of Cumming and the several County Commissioners, only to garner a universal and immediate response of "Impossible", followed by several minutes of civilly discussing the tangents of Their perspective(s)...that only illuminate why NOT.

"Impossible" is a degree of difficulty...set by imagination for lack of motivation.

According to the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission, the group that promoted SPLOST VII, "Citizens for Progress" received 47 donations totaling $33,825.82.

Who were the donors? Primarily the same outside-the-county contractors and developers who will now stick their noses into the taxpayer-funded feeding trough.

Wakefield Beasley and Associates of Atlanta, the same architectural firm that prepared the SPLOST VII Planning and Programming Study, was the largest single donor with a $5,000 contribution.

Next in line among big-money special interest groups that donated are construction companies C.W. Matthews of Marietta, E.R. Snell of Snellville, Winter Construction of Atlanta and Carte, Goble Lee, of Fayetteville, with donations of $2,500 each.

Moreland Altobelli of Norcross, Alliance National Bank of Dalton, Jacobs of Norcross, Kimley-Horne of Atlanta, Arcadis of Atlanta, Jason Teter of Alpharetta and Comprehensive Program Services of Atlanta. Each donated $1,000.

In fact, only a miniscule amount of money came from Forsyth County businesses or individuals.

Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce donated $2,500 but none of the local businesses they represent donated individually.

Where was the money spent?

About 86 percent (or $23,570) went to Red Clay Communications. The company's president is Josh Jones, a political consultant who managed political campaigns for Commission Chairman Brian Tam and recently received $3,000 from Commissioner Patrick Bell to help with his reelection bid next year.

These are the outside-the-county special interests who crammed this tax down the throats of our citizens. Don't forget them in July.

july is the primary. my bet is that the criminal minds in our county government will get the jobs back. i was at a friends house today and they had an addition added to the back of their home. the permit dept stopped the job three times because the prior inspectors inspected it WRONG!that means the contractor lost MONEY! the home owner blames the COUNTY not their contractor. her contractor lost aprox. 3600.00 on 18,000.00.