DeKalb CEO Pushes To Repave Roads With Possible New Tax

If voters approve a one-penny sales tax referendum, DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond said it could generate almost half a billion dollars in the next five years. He wants to use a lot of that money to improve roads.

Thurmond said the county plans to resurface about 35 miles of road, and, if the new tax is approved for next year: “I’m convinced – and I don’t have the exact numbers – that that number will quadruple. It will be without any reservation in my mind, a game changer.”

Commissioner Jeff Rader agreed that would be a good use of the money.

“I think that we’ve heard that loud and clear from involved constituents and from people that don’t like potholes and don’t like to see the roads going to ruin,” Rader said.

Rader added that he would like to see more sidewalks and improvements to intersections as well.

DeKalb residents will vote on the tax in November.