T-SPLOST opponents mischaracterize tax

Over the last several weeks, I have read with some interest the letters to the editor in opposition to the upcoming T-SPLOST referendum. Reasonable people can disagree on the merits of the proposal, but to equate the T-SPLOST with wealth redistribution is, frankly, absurd.

Wealth redistribution is quite simply taking money/property from someone and giving it to someone else who has no legitimate claim to it.

The T-SPLOST however, is based on the idea of citizens in a given area agreeing to pool a portion of the money they spend, in this case one penny for each dollar, and contractng with a company or individual to perform a service for them. The service in this case is road resurfacing/replacement, sidewalk repair/replacement and bridge repair/replacement, etc.

The contractors are awarded these jobs by low-bid contracts. They are obligated to completes the job in a specified time with a predetermined cost. The contractor is fined if the job is not completed on time and any cost overruns are borne by the contractor.

Calling this process wealth redistribution displays a lack of knowledge of basic economics that illustrates why this country is in the peril it is.

TRACY FERGUSON

Leesburg