BY KRISTI REED
Barrow County residents will not be catching the Brain Train if current voter sentiment holds sway.
Barrow voters say ‘No’ to Brain Train
The Barrow County Republican Party included three non-binding questions on this year’s primary ballot. One of the questions was an attempt to determine county support for the Atlanta to Athens Brain Train.
By a large majority, citizens opposed raising local taxes to pay for Barrow’s portion of the proposed rail line.
Out of 6,323 votes cast, only 1,796, or 28 percent, were in favor of raises taxes to bring the Brain Train to Barrow. The remaining 4,527 voted against any proposed tax increase.
The ballot featured two other questions designed to gather voter input to help local party and elected officials. Those two issues met with more favorable results.
Over 85 percent of Barrow voters expressed support for the permanent repeal of the federal estate tax (the so-called ‘death tax’).
An even more overwhelming majority, 98 percent, voted in favor of making English the official language of Georgia.
The Barrow County Republican Party held three forums during the primary season and strongly urged voters to cast a ballot in the July 15 Republican primary.
Barrow Republican Party chairman Ken Young encouraged voter turnout saying the local races would have a great impact on the future and the way of life for area residents.
Several races were decided by the July 15 primary, including the races for Dist. 1 and Dist. 2 county commissioner as well as the race for Clerk of Superior Court.
By a large majority, citizens opposed raising local taxes to pay for Barrow’s portion of the proposed rail line.
Out of 6,323 votes cast, only 1,796, or 28 percent, were in favor of raises taxes to bring the Brain Train to Barrow. The remaining 4,527 voted against any proposed tax increase.
The ballot featured two other questions designed to gather voter input to help local party and elected officials. Those two issues met with more favorable results.
Over 85 percent of Barrow voters expressed support for the permanent repeal of the federal estate tax (the so-called ‘death tax’).
An even more overwhelming majority, 98 percent, voted in favor of making English the official language of Georgia.
The Barrow County Republican Party held three forums during the primary season and strongly urged voters to cast a ballot in the July 15 Republican primary.
Barrow Republican Party chairman Ken Young encouraged voter turnout saying the local races would have a great impact on the future and the way of life for area residents.
Several races were decided by the July 15 primary, including the races for Dist. 1 and Dist. 2 county commissioner as well as the race for Clerk of Superior Court.
How many people would use this train to get to Atlanta on a regular basis to make it pay? We can't even get people to carpool to Atlanta!
Now, how many drug dealers, homeless people, and crooks would use it to come FROM Atlanta TO us??
Let me tell you a true story. I grew up in a small town that had freight trains go through it daily. The city thought it would be a great idea to start passenger service to the state capital. They spent gobs of taxpayer money building depots, improving bridges and even changed some street routings. It only took 15 years before they shut IT ALL DOWN. Why? The depots had become havens for the druggies, dealers, RAPISTS, and all other undesirables to move in. People refused to use the train service...it was too dangerous! All that money was wasted...you can check the facts yourself. It happened in Salem, MA and the service was to and from Boston.
If we are trying to retain Barrow County's quality-of-life, we DO NOT WANT train service to Atlanta.