The proposed bill would change the current law, which gives the County Commission sole authority to decide whether to call a referendum. The commission has on three earlier occasions refused to put a county-wide SPLOST referendum on the ballot; February 5, 2003, August 6, 2003 and December 3, 2003.

Saying she opposes the bill "vigorously," Commission Chairman Karen Handel made the motion and District 5 Commissioner Emma I. Darnell seconded.

"This is truly beyond the pale," Handel said, calling it unconstitutional. "It is not a municipality's job to direct a county what they can or cannot do, just as a county can't direct a municipality what they can or cannot do."

Commissioner Darnell questioned the tax burden on the most vulnerable populations.

"It is preposterous that we would even allow citizens to think for one moment that in addition to all the other kinds of fees and taxes they have, that we are now considering raising sales taxes from 7 percent to 8 percent," said Darnell. "It doesn't even purport to reduce the water and sewer fees in Atlanta."