Cobb, Gwinnett Voters Reject Transit Tax Proposals

Voters in Cobb and Gwinnett counties decisively rejected proposed sales tax increases aimed at funding extensive transit projects, with Cobb County's Mobility Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (MSPLOST) receiving 37.6% support and Gwinnett's transit SPLOST garnering 46.55% approval. In Cobb, the rejected tax would have raised over $10 billion to expand bus services and construct 100 miles of high-capacity transit routes. Gwinnett's plan, which aimed to fund 75 transit projects and create new transit facilities, was also deemed too costly by opponents who argued the benefits did not justify the expenses. The failure of these referendums reflects ongoing voter reluctance to endorse long-term tax initiatives for transit, despite the counties' projected population growth. The rejection of these measures suggests a challenging future for local transit funding in the Atlanta metro area. Both counties had presented ambitious plans to enhance public transport amid rising population demands.