Committee approves alternative host tax language for Cherokee-area counties, includes 10-year sunset and capital-share provisions

The Finance committee approved substitute language to House Bill 66 that would create an alternative host (local option) tax available to counties without an existing local-option sales tax, identified in committee discussion as Cherokee, Cobb and Gwinnett counties. Sponsors said the substitute would allow up to 25% of the collections generated under the local sales tax to be used for capital projects; those capital funds would be distributed to municipalities within a county in the same proportion used for SPLOST distributions.

Under the substitute described in committee, voter approval would be required for two linked ballot questions: the alternative homestead exemption and the sales-and-use tax to pay for it. Sponsors said both parts must pass for either to take effect; if one fails,…