With 94 percent of precincts reporting, 63 percent of voters rejected the tax, compared to 37 percent in favor. In the 13-county Georgia Mountains Region, 75 percent of voters turned thumbs down on the Transportation Investment Act.
The only three regions that approved the penny tax were River Valley, Central Savannah and Heart of Georgia Altamaha.
The penny sales tax to pay for billions in transportation projects over the next decade was a draw for many voters in Tuesday's primary election. The issue was on the primary ballot in 12 districts around the state, with voters in each region deciding whether to levy the tax to pay for road and transit projects in their communities. Statewide approval was not required. The Atlanta region stood the most to gain.
Critics derided the proposal as an unfair tax on the poor that wouldn't deal with the problems of sprawl. Tuesday's vote "shows the power of the people," said Debbie Dooley, Georgia Tea Party Patriots state coordinator and an outspoken opponent of the measure.
"They ran a top-down, PR campaign, whereas we ran a bottom-up, true grassroots political campaign," Dooley said Tuesday. "The people are sending a message, and elected officials would do well to take heed: You aren't getting any more of our tax dollars until you can show you're responsible and can be trusted with the money you have now."
Supporters included Republican Gov. Nathan Deal and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, a Democrat; they were increasingly visible in the days leading up to the vote. They tied the tax to Georgia's economic future and promised the infrastructure projects would ease traffic congestion for frustrated commuters.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2012/8/251324