ATLANTA, Oct. 20, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Metro Atlanta’s most-influential real estate and development associations today launched the Unlock ATL campaign in an unprecedented effort to raise awareness of and gain support for the critical transportation referenda on the Nov. 8 ballot.
Specifically, the groups led by the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors (ACBR) and Atlanta Realtors Association (ARA) are urging voters in the city of Atlanta and across Fulton County to vote “YES” on a five-year Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax for Transportation Purposes (T-SPLOST). Unlock ATL also supports the referendum to create a MARTA transit sales tax to help fund the authority’s effort to extend the current rail system.
“Metro Atlanta is in the middle of an economic development win streak that is creating tens of thousands of new jobs and providing new opportunities for residents across the region,” said Sandy Springs resident Steve Dils, who serves as 2016 president of the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors. “We want to maintain this momentum, so it’s critical that residents vote for the T-SPLOST referendum.”
The Council for Quality Growth, Society of Industrial Realtors and Certified Commercial Investment Member have joined Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors and Atlanta Realtors Association in the Unlock ATL campaign. This movement marks the first time these groups have coalesced to support a referendum.
"The core mission Unlock ATL is to convey how each individual voter will benefit from this referendum,” said Lane McCormack, 2016 president of Atlanta Realtors Association. “We’re thrilled to come together and deliver a singular message from our entire industry."
Unlike the previous T-SPLOST referendum, proceeds raised in any given area will go directly to benefit that area's projects. That means money raised in Sandy Springs will benefit Sandy Springs, money raised in Union City will be dedicated for use in Union City, and the same will occur throughout the various cities in Fulton County.
Ballots in the city of Atlanta will ask voters to vote on these two items:
- Shall an additional 0.4% in sales tax be collected for infrastructure and road improvements?
- Shall an additional 0.5% in sales tax be collected for the purpose of significantly expanding and enhancing MARTA transit service in the City of Atlanta?
The remaining parts of Fulton County, will be asked:
- Shall an additional 0.75% sales tax be collected in part of Fulton County outside of the City of Atlanta for five years for the purpose of transportation improvements and congestion reduction?
To help spread the word of the importance of the referenda, the ARA and ACBR leadership, along with the help of Skyline PR Firm, created several social media channels for Unlock ATL. The effort can be followed on Twitter at @UnlockATL, on Facebook at Unlock ATL and on Instagram at UnlockATL.
Click here for more information on T-SPLOST.
- Fulton County Voters:
- City of Atlanta Voters: