Election 2017: DeKalb sales tax increase approved

Dunwoody residents Fran Percarpio, center, and Ann Percarpio, left, cast their ballots at Chestnut Elementary School in Atlanta, Georgia, in the 6th Congressional District race on Tuesday, April 18, 2017.  (DAVID BARNES / DAVID.BARNES@AJC.COM)

Credit: David Barnes

Credit: David Barnes

Dunwoody residents Fran Percarpio, center, and Ann Percarpio, left, cast their ballots at Chestnut Elementary School in Atlanta, Georgia, in the 6th Congressional District race on Tuesday, April 18, 2017. (DAVID BARNES / DAVID.BARNES@AJC.COM)

DeKalb County voters overwhelmingly approved a sales tax increase and property tax reduction, according to final ballot counts.

The sales tax hike, from 7 percent to 8 percent, will bring in more than $100 million annually for road repaving, fire station repairs, police vehicles and other infrastructure through a special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST).

DeKalb CEO Mike Thurmond said voters approved “a blueprint for success.”

“We take this vote of trust seriously and will continue to work with our city partners on a better future,” Thurmond said in a statement.

Voters also passed referendums to use existing sales taxes to reduce homeowners' property taxes, and to make permanent a tax break that offsets the cost of rising home assessments.

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