Nearly two-thirds of DeKalb voters supported a proposed sales tax increase after being asked about the state of the county's roads, sidewalks and other infrastructure, according to a Georgia State University survey.
The phone survey found residents were initially reluctant to back the special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST), with about 44 percent of them in favor of the 1 percent additional tax, and 33 percent undecided.
But their support increased to 63 percent by the end of the survey, with 19 percent undecided.
“Somehow, participating in the survey provided them with enough information and engagement that they can now support the SPLOST,” according Georgia State University’s research report on its survey, which was commissioned by DeKalb’s government. “The survey findings suggest that a modest amount of voter education and engagement may help develop support for the SPLOST.”
Voters will decide during November's election whether to approve the SPLOST, which would raise about $552 million over the next five years for capital projects.
About 34 percent of survey takers said road resurfacing would be their top priority for SPLOST funding, followed by public safety facilities and equipment at 21 percent. Smaller numbers of residents wanted improvements to transportation, facilities, sidewalks, libraries and parks.
A citizen advisory panel is scheduled to create a proposed project list by the end of the month for consideration by the DeKalb Commission.
The survey of 1,013 likely voters took place from Feb. 22 to March 1, and it had a 3.1 percent margin of error. Respondents were contacted on landlines and cellphones.
The survey was conducted by the Public Performance and Management Group in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University.
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