Campaign finance report still due from metro Atlanta sales tax group; NE Ga. pros, Middle Ga. cons have filed

By David Pendered

The campaign team working for passage of the transportation sales tax has not filed its report on its campaign finances, according to the report of filings maintained by the state’s Campaign Finance Commission.

A campaign financial disclosure that was due Monday has not been filed by advocates of the transportation sales tax. The grace period ends July 23, eight days before the election. Credit: Citizens for Transportation Management

The filing deadline was Monday. A grace period extends the final day of submission to July 23 – eight days before the election. The campaign committee must file an electronic report if more than $500 have been raised.

Late fees are charged for disclosures filed July 24 and later. The late fee is $125 for reports filed by July 30; $250 for reports filed on election day; and $1,000 for reports filed by Aug. 30. After August, there is no penalty published on the website of the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission.

One group that has filed is working for passage in the region just north of metro Atlanta. Another one that filed is based in Warner Robins and is opposing the sales tax.

For the Northeast Georgia campaign, contributions totaled $78,550 and expenses total $62,712.87, according to the financial disclosure filed by Citizens for Better Transportation – Region 2 Ga.

The report provides a snapshot of the response in a region that’s bracing for a population boom of 72 percent in the next 30 years. That forecast was released Thursday in a report by the U.S. Conference of Mayors

In northeast Georgia, all 33 contributions came from the business community. Two chambers of commerce led with total giving of $34,500 in cash, plus $2,500 worth of in-kind contribution of office space provided by the Cumming Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce.

The Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce provided $31,000, the largest contribution from a single source. Other major contributors include:

• Lafarge Building Materials – $10,000;
• Georgia Power – $7,500;
• United Community Banks – $2,500;
• TRG Forsyth LLC – $2,500;
• Taubman Realty Group – $2,500;
• Cumming Forsyth Chamber of Commerce – $2,500.

The major expenses were for direct mail, advertising, and fundraising:

• Red Clay Communications (Direct mail) – $41,732.87;
• 140Six Development (Fundraising) – $6,835;
• Newspaper advertising (The Times and Forsyth County News) – $10,000;
• Online advertising (accessnorthga.com, The Times) – $4,145.

The Warner Robins organization is named Citizens Against T-SPLOST.

Contributions total $700 and expenditures stand at $1,124.72, according to the campaign financial disclosure.

Contributions were provided by two self-identified retirees and a company in Warner Robins – Clean Control Corp. The company contributd $300 and the two men donated $200 each.

The expenses were for yard signs, at $779.92; and for billboard signage, at $344.80.