One man’s view of the 2008 (1-cent) defeat

Why, in 2008, did 56% of the voters say no to paying an extra penny of sales tax to pay for projects that would benefit all of Oconee County? You can ask Keowee Key resident Don Fuller. He has several theories. Fuller is back as a project sales tax commissioner and he gave his colleagues, all of whom are new to the process, his views last night of what went wrong. In 2008, the referendum proposed more than 50 projects. But Fuller says the strategy of something for everybody didn’t work. This time, he suggests fewer projects for which to spend the one-cent, something like three to five, he said. And there were simultaneous factors such as an unpopular county tax re-assessment program that led to accusations some taxpayers were being treated unfairly. This time around Fuller recommended the county create a budget to allow it advertise its case. And his thoughts about communication were endorsed last night by fellow commissioner Glen McPheeters.