Douglas County 2016 Ballot Measures

Ankita Ackroyd-Isales

Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax

“Shall a special one percent sales and use tax be imposed in the special district of Douglas County for a period of time of twenty-four calendar quarters (6 years) and for the raising of an estimated amount of $160,000,000 for the following purposes, pursuant to an Intergovernmental Contract, dated July 6, 2016, among Douglas County, Georgia, the City of Austell, the City of Douglasville and the City of Villa Rica, which qualified municipalities comprise more than 50% of the municipal population of the special district: (A)(1) funding the following capital outlay projects for Douglas County: (1) Transportation, (2) Fire, EMS and Public Radio System, and (3) Parks and Recreation (the “County Projects”); (B) funding the following capital outlay project for the City of Austell: (1) Improvements and Renovations to Louise Suggs Park; (C) Funding the following capital outlay projects for the City of Douglasville: (1) Transportation and Streets, (2) Public Safety (including, but not limited to, fire and EMS), (3) Parks and Recreation, and (4) Facility Infrastructure (the “Douglasville Projects”); and (D) funding the following capital outlay projects for the City of Villa Rica: (1) Transportation and Streets; (2) Water and Sewerage; (3) Public Safety (including, but not limited to, fire and EMS) and (4) Parks and Recreation?

If the imposition of the tax is approved by the voters, such vote shall also constitute approval of the issuance of general obligation bonds of Douglas County in the principal amount of $110,000,000 for the County Projects and the Douglasville Projects listed as items (C)(1) through (4) above.

This SPLOST would enact a 1 percent sales tax for six years in Douglas County and its cities to go toward countywide and city-specific projects. The countywide projects include transportation, public safety improvements, and parks and recreation renovations and improvements. The SPLOST would also fund improvements to Louise Suggs park in Austell; transportation, public safety, parks and recreation, and facility projects in Douglasville; and transportation, water and sewer, public safety, and parks and recreation projects in Villa Rica. It would also approve the sale of general obligation bonds by the county for countywide and Douglasville projects. 

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Special Election City Of Villa Rica

For Mayor (To Fill the Unexpired Term of J. Allen Collins, Resigned)

  • Sheikh Tijan Drammeh
  • Jeff Reese
  • Issac
  • J. Robinson

This election will select the city’s mayor, to fill the seat vacated by J. Collins, who is running for the Georgia House of Representatives in District 68.

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For City Council Ward 4 (To Fill the Unexpired Term of Mike Williamson, Resigned)

  • Michael Nicholas Day
  • Joey Kelley
  • Gil McDougal
  • Michael Young

This election will select the city councilmember for Ward 4, to fill the seat vacated by mayor pro-tem Mike Williamson.

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