A Decatur Resident’s Sample Voting Ballot
Decatur Metro | November 7, 2011 | 10:11 am
Everyone is just clamoring to see tomorrow’s election ballot a few hours early! Here’s a look at the northside version (and the PDF). (Swap out Cunningham for Floyd and Bumgardner/Goebel for Rhame if you’re living large on the southside)
Aside from electing local officials, you’ll also be voting on Sunday Alcohol Sales and SPLOST (which is on the second page of the ballot). The wording for both items can be found after the jump.
And if you’re new, forgetful or just paranoid, here’s the link that can tell you the location of your voting precinct for this year.
Sunday Alochol Sales
“Shall the governing authority of the City of Decatur, Georgia be authorized to permit and regulate package sales by retailers of malt beverages, wine and distilled spirits on Sundays between the hours of 12:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.?”
DeKalb County School SPLOST
“Shall a special one percent sales and use tax for educational purposes continue to be imposed in DeKalb County for not longer than 20 quarters, beginning July 1, 2012, to raise not more than $645,000,000 in the aggregate for the purpose of (A) developing sites for constructing and equipping new schools, support facilities and athletic facilities; (B) making additions to, acquiring or renovating and equipping existing schools, support facilities and athletic facilities and greenspace associated with such facilities, and demolishing portions of existing structures in connection therewith; (C) making system-wide renovations, additions and improvements to bus and parent pick-up driveways and facility parking lots and purchasing school buses, school-related vehicles and other transportation equipment; (D) making existing lease/purchase payments with respect to the acquisition of new and existing schools and support facilities; and (E) modernizing technology and making system-wide technology improvements, including the acquisition of computers and similar technology for students and staff; not to exceed $607,384,422 for the DeKalb County School District, $18,115,116 for the City Schools of Decatur and $19,500,462 for the Atlanta Independent School System, all as more fully described in the Notice of Election? If imposition of the tax is approved by a majority of the voters within the DeKalb County School District, such vote shall also constitute approval of the issuance of general obligation debt of the DeKalb County School District in the principal amount of not to exceed $200,000,000 for the purpose of funding a portion of the above projects of the DeKalb County School District and if the tax is approved by a majority of the voters within the City of Decatur, such vote shall also constitute approval of the issuance of general obligation debt of the City of Decatur in the principal amount of not to exceed $10,000,000 for the purpose of funding a portion of the above projects of the City Schools of Decatur?
Helpful information as always. Thanks DM!
Does anyone know when Sunday sales will become legal if the measure passes? Does it require subsequent action of the City Commission?
Seems to me like the language (“Shall the governing authority of the City of Decatur, Georgia be authorized to permit and regulate ….”) would require further action on the part of the City Commission in order for it to become legal. This is just the voters giving them the authority to do so.
I wonder how long this would take?
Been meaning to ask the city about this. Just sent them a note.
Are we also being asked to approve an additional $10 million dollar school bond for CSD too? That’s what the last sentence seems to say.
I need someone to help me here but I think we already obligated much if not all of that money. So if SPLOST isn’t approved, then CSD still owes money on a lease for FAVE and the lease payments will have to come out of the operational budget (i.e. taken away from students) or COD taxes will have to be raised, or both.
I think that is correct. As I understand it the previous bonds payments were anticipated to be paid from the continuation of SPLOST.
In the event that SPLOST is not approved by Dekalb County AND City of Decatur residents, CSD will continue to be obligated to make the bond payments. Unless another funding source steps up, (I’m unaware of any in the wings other than property owners) these payments will need to made from the general fund.
That’s completely asinine. On what basis did the school board obligate itself to payments assuming that voters would approve a future continuation of the SPLOST?
I was going to vote “no” on SPLOST, but now I feel like they’ve got me over a barrel. Grr…
The school board is relying not just on this SPLOST IV to pass, but SPLOST V, VI, VII and VIII.
I raised this issue 2 years ago.
Our budget-planning process should not assume that voters will renew SPLOST forever. We should plan and budget for the possibility that SPLOST may not be renewed, so we can minimize the impact on the General Fund and instruction.
Thanks, Garrett. Were you in my district, you’d have my vote on this issue alone. Good luck today!
Jack, you can read the whole text of the resolution here: http://www.csdecatur.net/SPLOST/more
The part that is relevant to your question reads:
“WHEREAS, the Decatur Board of Education desires to finance all or a portion of the City of Decatur School Projects (hereinafter defined) through the issuance by and through the City of Decatur (the “City of Decatur”) of not to exceed $10,000,000 in general obligation debt of the City of Decatur (the “Decatur Bonds”) and the City of Decatur school system (“City Schools of Decatur”) intends to pay the principal of and interest on the Decatur Bonds with its portion of the proceeds of the SPLOST;”
If we all start a harmonious ‘virtual” chant, maybe we can levitate this DM site: “tax me more, tax me more, tax me more!” #occupydecaturforhighertaxes
When is the best time to vote? Afternoon?
I would not worry about there being significant lines at any time of the day, Blake. The only time I’ve ever had to wait more than 5-10 minutes to vote is a Presidential election when turnuout is upwards of 70%
I’d expect 20% turnout on the northside. 10% turnout on the southside (no contested commission or school board elections).
what are the voting times? does it go till 6pm?
Nearly 40 years voting in every election in Decatur or briefly in Atlanta. Only time I had to wait more than 5 to 10 minutes was presidential elections.
I enjoyed the wait in 2008, and honestly was a little disappointed that it wasn’t longer, based on all the reports of insane lines during early voting.
Has anyone else heard rumors that a new administrative building is high on the wish list?
One can also view one’s location-specific ballot on the same results page that gives the polling location (see link above). Just click ‘Sample Ballot’.
Not a rumor. It’s #3 on the list: “To acquire, including, but not limited to, through lease-purchase, design, construct and equip a new Central Office for the City Schools of Decatur, including parking.”
Go to the CSD website and click on “SPLOST” then open the .pdf “SPLOST IV Project List.”
With all the vacant office space these days, why would they need to build a new office building?
With all the vacant office space these days, why would they need to build a new office building?
From what I understand, if they leased space in an office building somewhere, that would have come come out of the general fund, whereas SPLOST money could only go towards facilities construction.
Only construction? They could not lease/purchase an existing building?
Sunday sales…great. But I’ve really been looking forward to adding wine/beer to my Sunday morning shopping list. Ugh.
Nice twist for this SPLOST to be (on) IV.
Hi Decatur Metro,
How late are the polls open tonight? I’ve got to remember to come home from work in time to Vote!
Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Same as always. Never changes. State law.