Cobb County voters go to the polls Tuesday to decide on a fourth version of the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, which would raise almost 718-million dollars for Cobb Schools and another 55 million for Marietta through an extension of the one-penny sales tax.
 
For proponent John Loud, there is no better way to raise much-needed school money because it has made possible, “School district like Cobb County that’s 100-percent debt-free and has saved almost $500 billion in interest payments.”
 
But not everyone sees it that way.
 
“Most of the spending that’s involved in this SPLOST is for sports, recreation and entertainment,” said Lance Lamberton, who leads the Cobb Taxpayers Association, which opposes the SPLOST. “Let’s send (Cobb County leaders) a message they can’t ignore.”
 
If passed, the measure, unofficially known as SPLOST IV, would be levied for five years. It would raise an estimated $717.8 million dollars for Cobb schools and $55.4 million for Marietta schools. Polling takes place Tuesday. Turnout is expected to be light.