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Forsyth County, Cumming agree on sales tax split By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
PHOTOS BY JAKE DRUKMAN/APPEN MEDIA
People gather to listen to the speakers at a Forsyth County Democrats coordinated campaign office opening July 28.
Democrats rally for Harris, down-ballot candidates By JAKE DRUKMAN newsroom@appenmedia.com
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear speaks to the crowd in support of Kamala Harris as the Forsyth County Democrats open a coordinated campaign office July 28.
ROI
matters.
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Democrats hosted a rally drawing some 150 attendees July 28 to celebrate the opening of a coordinated campaign office for the party. The office on Redi Road will serve to support Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign, as well as the numerous Democrats running for local, state and federal offices in the area. The most prominent speaker at Sunday’s rally was Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat who is reportedly on the shortlist
to become Harris’ running mate. Beshear has found popularity in his deep-red home state, expanding his share of the vote between his initial 2019 election and his 2023 reelection despite Republicans continuously dominating Kentucky’s federal races. “I know how to win tough elections, and so do you,” Beshear said to the crowd. “When Georgia came in four years ago, we knew that President Biden and Vice President Harris had won. So between now and Election Day, we need you to do what you do best: the hard work.”
See RALLY, Page 15
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FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County commissioners locked in an agreement on July 23 to share special purpose sales tax funds with Cumming after a round of last-minute wrangling over the split. The Forsyth County Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) is a 1 percent sales and use tax that began in 1987 to fund transportation, parks and recreation, fire, law enforcement, water and other projects. It runs for a set term and has been renewed by voters seven times since it was first approved in 1987. If renewed by voters this November, the tax is expected to bring in more than $350 million over its six-year term. The county and city share agreement was reached as time was running out, County Commissioner Cindy Jones Mills said, and it needed to be approved before the end of the week to allow the county’s Board of Elections time to call an election for Nov. 5.
See TAX, Page 12
FORSYTH COUNTY/PROVIDED
Forsyth County commissioners discuss a SPLOST agreement that splits funds between the county and city for improvement projects at a July 23 work session. Commissioners reached the agreement in time to ask the Board of Elections to call a vote for Nov. 5.
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