Walker County at a Crossroads: The TSPLOST Vote on November 7th
An Urgent Message To The Citizens Of Walker County
How long shall we languish in the shadows of missed opportunities and self inflicted mistakes? How many times will we allow the allure of progress to be dangled before us, only to watch it slip away? How many times must we fall back into the failed thinking of years past? My fellow citizens, we are at an undeniable, unavoidable crossroads in Walker County, and the choice is stark: choose improvement and progress by voting for TSPLOST or resign ourselves to a narrative of "what could have been" and face a darker future.
Let's imagine what the future might look like in Walker County with and without TSPLOST.
Future A - With TSPLOST: Prosperity On The Horizon
1. Rebuilt Roads and Renewed Pride:
Imagine this – you're driving down one of the country roads in the cove, top down, sun shining, not a pothole in sight. It’s not just a smoother ride; it’s a reflection of a county that takes pride in itself, that cares about its people.
2. Economic Powerhouse:
Walker County becomes the state’s next upstart county. Businesses flood in, bringing jobs and prosperity. The word gets out: this is the place to be. We're not just talking big corporations; we're talking mom-and-pop stores, entrepreneurs, and innovators.
Infrastructure isn't just about convenience; it's about commerce. Efficient roads and transportation options attract businesses and entrepreneurs. By voting "yes" on TSPLOST, you're not just voting for smoother drives—you're voting for a more vibrant local economy, more jobs, and a stronger tax base that can fund other essential services without raising property taxes.
3. A Fairer County:
With TSPLOST, the financial responsibility doesn't fall solely on us, the residents. Visitors, tourists, and anyone making a purchase in our county will contribute. This means everyone who benefits from our improved infrastructure—whether they live here or are just passing through—pitches in.
4. Stability and Predictability
With a consistent revenue stream dedicated to transportation, residents are insulated from the dreaded surprise of property tax hikes. Long-term visioning and capital planning will become less of a gamble and more of a science.
Future B - Without TSPLOST: A Looming Storm
1. A Bumpy Ride (Literally):
Those roads we've been complaining about? They get worse. Every drive feels like an off-roading adventure, but not the fun kind. And with deteriorating roads come greater risks and higher accident rates.
Expect more and more posts like the ones below if TSPLOST isn’t approved.
2. Economic Limbo:
Businesses think twice before coming to a county that can't maintain its basic infrastructure. It sends a message: If they can’t fix their roads, what else might be wrong? Potential investors look elsewhere, deeming Walker County's infrastructure unreliable.
Existing businesses face operational challenges, considering relocation. The stagnation is palpable, and the lost opportunities are counted in jobs not created, businesses not opened, and dreams not realized.
3. The Taxman Cometh:
The roads in Walker County are bad. The cost to fix them is worse. And that cost has to be paid eventually. The only questions are when and where will the funds come from. In a future Walker County without TSPLOST to fund essential roadworks, the county has no recourse but to levy heavier property taxes. Homeowners feel the pinch, conversations around dinner tables are filled with worries, and community morale takes a dive.
We all despise property taxes. But without TSPLOST, guess what's going to shoot up when those dozens of roads finally become too deteriorated or dangerous or even impassable? That's right: property taxes.
Local Social Media Makes Clear Roads and Property Taxes are Top Local Issues. T-SPLOST improves the situation for both.
Your Vote, Your Choice
TSPLOST epitomizes the principle of government by the people. If, in a few years, you feel the tax has outlived its usefulness or that it failed to deliver, it can be voted out(or not renewed). This is a check on government power, ensuring that these funds are used wisely and effectively for their intended purpose.
Every so often, a community faces a crucial juncture, a crossroads between maintaining the status quo and pursuing progress. Walker County is at such an intersection, and the direction we choose will determine our trajectory for years to come.
As Robert Frost once wrote, the road chosen makes all the difference. Walker County stands at a junction of profound significance. The TSPLOST vote isn't a mere policy decision—it's a statement about the kind of future we want to embrace.
On November 7th, your vote has the power to set us on a path of rejuvenation and improvement or resign us to missed opportunities. Choose the road of progress. Vote "yes" for TSPLOST.
Be sure to encourages your friends and family to vote on Tuesday November 7th!
For more detailed information on T-SPLOST, the county has you covered.
This page includes a map and list of all roads that have been resurfaced thanks to TSPLOST:
TSPLOST - Walker County, GA - Official Government Site (walkercountyga.gov)
Just like SPLOST, we are required to publish in the newspaper once a year, all expenditures. Those are available on that main TSPLOST page, but here is a direct link to the last 2:
This is link include info about the amount of $ a new TSPLOST would generate, along with some additional facts:
There is very little money from the 2017 TSPLOST that is going into 2023 paving projects, like a couple $100k. The majority, $6-million, is from the 2020 SPLOST. Once these projects are completed, all dedicated funding for road projects in the county will be exhausted.
2023 Scheduled Road Projects - Walker County, GA - Official Government Site (walkercountyga.gov)
Here is the 2020 SPLOST information:
2020 SPLOST - Walker County, GA - Official Government Site (walkercountyga.gov)
Here is a list of every road in unincorporated Walker County and when it was last resurfaced. We don't have data before 2017.
Walker-County-Roads-Updated-fall-2023.pdf (walkercountyga.gov)