Vote No on July 31 - Stop Taxing the Middle Class/Poor Unjustly (Atlanta: living, young professionals)

[cqholt]

Someone passed out fliers under all the doors in my complex yesterday that said "A Yes Vote on July 31 raises your sales tax 15%. Vote No. Keep more of your money from the 1%"

What a joke, Atlanta's tax would be 9%, still behind Birmingham and Montgomery. And the sewer tax is set to expire in 2016 so that will lower it to 8%. Where do these people come up with 15%?

[BobKovacs]

Originally Posted by cqholt

What a joke, Atlanta's tax would be 9%, still behind Birmingham and Montgomery. And the sewer tax is set to expire in 2016 so that will lower it to 8%. Where do these people come up with 15%?

They're saying that it's being increased by 15%, not to 15%. It's actually a 13% increase if it goes from 8% to 9%, but the 15% number is a little "rounder".

[cqholt]

They're saying that it's being increased by 15%, not to 15%. It's actually a 13% increase if it goes from 8% to 9%, but the 15% number is a little "rounder".

Either way its still a 1% sales tax. That's just a way to make it sounder scarier than it truly is. Its still lower than Alabama. But 9% is something you won't have to worry about, Bob, since you don't live in Atlanta.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by BobKovacs

They're saying that it's being increased by 15%, not to 15%. It's actually a 13% increase if it goes from 8% to 9%, but the 15% number is a little "rounder".

Surely even you will acknowledge that it's sleazy trickery to state it that way.

[BobKovacs]

Originally Posted by JPD

Surely even you will acknowledge that it's sleazy trickery to state it that way.

Perhaps if it was written solely as "A Yes Vote on July 31 raises your sales tax 15%. Vote No", but seeing how the flyer supposedly said "A Yes Vote on July 31 raises your sales tax 15%. Vote No. Keep more of your money from the 1%", they are acknowledging that it's a 1% increase that raises the total sales tax approximately 15%.

Or are you thinking the last sentence is referencing "the 1%" that the Occupy crowd is rallying against???

[JPD]

Originally Posted by BobKovacs

Perhaps if it was written solely as "A Yes Vote on July 31 raises your sales tax 15%. Vote No", but seeing how the flyer supposedly said "A Yes Vote on July 31 raises your sales tax 15%. Vote No. Keep more of your money from the 1%", they are acknowledging that it's a 1% increase that raises the total sales tax approximately 15%.

Or are you thinking the last sentence is referencing "the 1%" that the Occupy crowd is rallying against???

Could be. Actually, I'm sure whoever came up with that wording hoped at least some people would see "1%" and make that connotation. That would be extremely smart (but still sleazy) on their part.

[belleislerunner]

Like many non presidential election cycles - this will probably come down to who gets out the vote the most. Most working age adults will be. Or, according to the plethora of TV ads, stuck in traffic so they won't make it back from commuting in time. Senior citizens are usually anti-tax, due to their fixed income, and have plenty of time to make it to the pools. Young people won't care enough - so with two weeks out - I predict failure. I'll be happy regardless of outcome to turn on the TV Aug 1 and not have to switch the channel/watch another duct tape commercial. That ad agency should be fired.

[Box]

Originally Posted by belleislerunner

Like many non presidential election cycles - this will probably come down to who gets out the vote the most. Most working age adults will be. Or, according to the plethora of TV ads, stuck in traffic so they won't make it back from commuting in time. Senior citizens are usually anti-tax, due to their fixed income, and have plenty of time to make it to the pools. Young people won't care enough - so with two weeks out - I predict failure. I'll be happy regardless of outcome to turn on the TV Aug 1 and not have to switch the channel/watch another duct tape commercial. That ad agency should be fired.

Really though, folks have done a horrible job when it comes to outreach for this thing. I spoke with my mother yesterday about whether or not she was going to vote for it, and she had just heard about this bill a day before I called her. Also, except for folks who are into urban planning issues, I haven't heard anyone between the ages of 18-30 talking about this referendum.

[atltechdude]

Originally Posted by belleislerunner

Like many non presidential election cycles - this will probably come down to who gets out the vote the most. Most working age adults will be. Or, according to the plethora of TV ads, stuck in traffic so they won't make it back from commuting in time. Senior citizens are usually anti-tax, due to their fixed income, and have plenty of time to make it to the pools. Young people won't care enough - so with two weeks out - I predict failure. I'll be happy regardless of outcome to turn on the TV Aug 1 and not have to switch the channel/watch another duct tape commercial. That ad agency should be fired.

I do not understand why we have ANY elections on workdays. Just stupid imo. The state workers should be willing to work a few Saturdays a year so more people can participate in their representative government.

[PKCorey]

Originally Posted by atltechdude

I do not understand why we have ANY elections on workdays. Just stupid imo. The state workers should be willing to work a few Saturdays a year so more people can participate in their representative government.

You can early vote this Saturday in most counties.