WHAT DOES
CHEROKEE COUNTY
ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT?
This is not a push poll. There are no trick questions. We want to understand what issues matter most to real people in our community — across the political spectrum.
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ISSUES WE'RE ASKING ABOUT
49 topics across local, state, and federal levels.
Property Tax Burden
Cherokee County property assessments have risen sharply with home values, which increases homeowners' annual tax bills even if millage rates stay the same. The county and school board each set their own millage rates independently.
Property Assessment Process
Georgia counties are required to assess property at fair market value. Residents can appeal their assessment annually. Some argue assessments rise faster than they should; others say accurate assessments ensure the tax burden is spread fairly.
Traffic: I-575 Corridor
The I-575 corridor through Cherokee County is one of the busiest commuter routes in metro Atlanta. Population growth has outpaced road capacity in several areas, and GDOT manages major improvements in coordination with the county.
Traffic: Local Roads
Roads like Sixes Road, Bells Ferry Road, Holly Springs Road, and Cumming Highway handle heavy local traffic that has grown with residential development. Improvements require coordination between the county, GDOT, and local municipalities.
Growth & Development Pace
Cherokee County has been one of the fastest-growing counties in Georgia for over a decade. Development decisions — including where to build, what to build, and how dense — are made primarily by the county commission and city councils.
Development Priorities
When approving new development, local governments balance competing priorities. Select all that you believe Cherokee County should prioritize.
Housing Affordability
Median home prices in Cherokee County have roughly doubled since 2018, pushing homeownership out of reach for many first-time buyers and working families. Zoning decisions at the county and city level strongly influence housing supply and prices.
Cherokee County Schools — Quality
Cherokee County School District serves over 42,000 students and is consistently rated among the better-performing districts in Georgia. The district is funded through a combination of local property taxes and state QBE formula funding.
Cherokee County Schools — Funding
Teacher salaries, classroom resources, and facilities maintenance all depend on the level of funding the district receives. Cherokee County can supplement state funding through local millage rates, but higher local school millage increases property taxes.
Parks & Green Space
Cherokee County maintains parks, trails, and recreational facilities. As development expands, decisions must be made about how much land to set aside for parks and whether to invest in new facilities.
Water & Utility Infrastructure
Cherokee County's water supply comes primarily from Lake Allatoona and the Etowah River. Growth puts pressure on water treatment capacity and aging utility infrastructure. The county has invested in expansions, but debates continue about long-term sustainability.
Local Law Enforcement
Cherokee County is served by the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, the Canton Police Department, and city police departments in Woodstock, Holly Springs, and other municipalities.
Local Government Transparency
Transparency includes how well local officials communicate decisions to residents, whether meetings are accessible, and whether government spending is easy to review.
Top Local Priority
If you had to choose, which single issue is the most important for Cherokee County to address in the next two years?
State Income Tax: Sales Tax Tradeoff
Georgia is on a phased path to reduce and potentially eliminate the state income tax. Because the income tax is Georgia's single largest revenue source (roughly $14 billion per year), eliminating it would require replacing that revenue — most likely through higher sales taxes. Sales taxes apply to most purchases regardless of income.
State Income Tax: Education & Healthcare Tradeoff
If Georgia cannot fully replace income tax revenue through other taxes, cuts to state spending would be required. Georgia currently spends roughly 54% of its state budget on education and healthcare combined. These are the two largest line items.
School Vouchers: Parent Choice
Georgia has passed legislation creating the Georgia Promise Scholarship, which provides state funds that families can use toward private school tuition. Supporters argue it gives parents more options, especially when their local public school is underperforming.
School Vouchers: Public School Funding Impact
When students leave public schools through voucher programs, a portion of the state per-student funding follows them. Critics argue this reduces the resources available to the students who remain in public schools, particularly those who cannot or do not choose to leave.
Teacher Pay
Georgia teacher salaries have lagged behind neighboring states and the national average for years. The state sets a minimum salary schedule; local districts can supplement it. Teacher shortages affect rural districts and certain subjects (math, special education, STEM) most acutely.
Medicaid Expansion
Georgia operates a limited Medicaid expansion called "Pathways" that requires work requirements. Full Medicaid expansion under the ACA would extend coverage to all adults earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level — an estimated 400,000–500,000 additional Georgians. Full expansion would bring in more federal matching funds.
Healthcare Price Transparency
Georgia can require hospitals and providers to publish prices in advance for common procedures. Currently, most patients do not know what they will be charged until after care is received. Price transparency advocates argue it improves competition; providers argue prices are too complex to standardize.
Mental Health Access
Georgia consistently ranks among the lowest states for mental health resources per capita. State funding for community mental health centers, inpatient beds, and peer support programs affects how accessible care is, especially for people without strong insurance.
Healthcare Cost Burden on Georgia Families
Georgia has one of the highest uninsured rates in the nation. Even for those with insurance, premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs have risen sharply. State policy affects Medicaid eligibility, insurance market rules, and healthcare facility regulation.
State-Negotiated Drug Prices
Several states have established drug pricing programs that negotiate lower prescription costs for Medicaid recipients, state employees, and in some cases the general public. Georgia could leverage its purchasing power — covering roughly 1.9 million Medicaid enrollees and 650,000 state employees and retirees — to negotiate lower prices directly with drug manufacturers.
Veterans' Healthcare Access
Georgia has approximately 700,000 veterans. Federal VA facilities are concentrated in Atlanta, Augusta, and a few other cities, leaving many rural and suburban veterans — including many in Cherokee County — with long travel times or wait times for VA care. Georgia can fund supplemental state programs, provide transportation assistance, and advocate for expanded VA capacity in underserved areas.
Reproductive Healthcare: Government Role (Side A)
Georgia's LIFE Act restricts most abortions after approximately six weeks of pregnancy. Some believe state law should reflect community values about when life begins and the role of government in protecting it.
Reproductive Healthcare: Doctor-Patient Decisions (Side B)
Separately from personal views on abortion, some argue that state law should not override the medical judgment of a licensed physician in cases involving pregnancy complications, miscarriage management, IVF, or other reproductive care — even when the law's intent is to restrict abortion.
State Minimum Wage
Georgia's state minimum wage is $5.15/hour, lower than the federal floor of $7.25/hour — though most Georgia employers are subject to the federal rate. Some argue Georgia should set its own minimum wage above the federal level to reflect the actual cost of living. Others argue wages should be left to market forces and that higher minimums can reduce employment.
Living Wage vs. Minimum Wage
A 'living wage' is defined as the hourly rate a full-time worker needs to cover basic expenses — housing, food, transportation, childcare, and healthcare — without public assistance. MIT's Living Wage Calculator estimates the living wage for a single adult in Cherokee County at approximately $20–$22/hour, compared to the $7.25 federal minimum. Some argue setting a living wage floor is a matter of basic dignity; others argue it should be left to employers and market competition.
Business Incentives Tied to Worker Benefits
Georgia offers billions of dollars in tax credits, grants, and economic development incentives to attract and retain businesses. Currently, these incentives generally do not require companies to provide health benefits, paid leave, or wages above the legal minimum. Some argue that taxpayer-funded business incentives should come with basic worker benefit requirements; others argue attaching conditions makes Georgia less competitive for new employers.
Voting Access: Voter ID Requirements
Georgia requires photo ID to vote in person and a driver's license number or copy of ID for absentee voting. Supporters say ID requirements protect election integrity. Critics say they can create barriers for voters who lack ID, particularly elderly, rural, and lower-income residents.
Voting Access: Early Voting & Drop Boxes
Georgia offers early in-person voting and absentee ballots. Since 2021, the number of drop boxes per county has been capped. Some argue expanding early voting days and drop boxes improves access for working families; others argue in-person Election Day voting should be the primary method.
Library Book Access & Local Control
Georgia's SB 74 and related legislation have increased state oversight over what materials public and school libraries can make available, including provisions for challenging and removing books. Supporters say it protects children; critics argue it reduces local control and restricts access to information.
Cannabis Policy
Georgia currently allows limited medical cannabis (low-THC oil only). Adult recreational use remains illegal. Neighboring states including Tennessee and Florida are at various stages of broader legalization. Legalization debates involve tax revenue, criminal justice, public health, and federal law conflicts.
Vaccine Choice & Medical Freedom
Several Georgia bills including HB 1242 (the "Medical Freedom Act") address whether state or local government can require vaccination as a condition of school attendance, public employment, or accessing services. Supporters of medical freedom legislation argue that all medical decisions — including vaccines — belong between a patient and their doctor. Supporters of public health requirements argue that vaccine mandates for schools and workplaces protect community health and have long-standing legal precedent.
LGBTQ+ Rights & Equal Dignity
Georgia passed SB 1 (the "Fair and Safe Athletic Opportunities Act"), restricting transgender athletes from competing in categories matching their gender identity. Other bills would limit state funding for gender-affirming care (SB 39, HB 660). Georgia does not have statewide anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ individuals in employment, housing, or public accommodations. Supporters of restrictions argue they protect fairness and child welfare; supporters of LGBTQ+ rights argue equal dignity and personal medical decisions should not be subject to state restriction.
Gig Worker & Part-Time Classification
Many Georgia employers classify workers as part-time, contract, or gig workers — a status that typically excludes them from benefits like health insurance, paid leave, and overtime protections. Some argue this flexibility benefits workers and keeps businesses competitive. Others argue it allows companies to systematically avoid providing basic protections by misclassifying full-time workers. Georgia could set rules limiting how many of a company's workers can be classified as part-time or contract without providing benefits.
AI Disclosure & Synthetic Media Labeling
Georgia passed SB 9 ("Ensuring Accountability for Illegal AI Activities Act") and has considered HB 478 (requiring AI-generated content disclaimers) and HB 1399 (the "LEGACY Act," protecting individuals' likeness from AI use without consent). The core question is whether Georgians should be able to know when text, images, video, or audio they see was generated by AI — particularly in political advertising, news, and public discourse.
Top State Priority
If the Georgia General Assembly could only focus on one major issue in the next session, which would matter most to you?
ICE Enforcement: Judicial Warrants (Side A)
Under the Fourth Amendment, entering a home generally requires a judicially issued warrant — one signed by a judge based on probable cause. ICE uses administrative warrants signed by agency supervisors, which courts have held do not authorize forced home entry. A federal lawsuit filed in January 2026 challenges an ICE policy that would allow entry based on administrative warrants alone.
ICE Enforcement: Georgia & Local Law Enforcement Cooperation
Georgia state law and local sheriff policies determine how much state and local law enforcement cooperates with federal ICE operations. Some states and localities have passed laws limiting cooperation when federal agencies are not complying with judicial warrant requirements. Georgia sheriffs currently have broad discretion on whether and how to assist federal immigration enforcement.
ICE Enforcement: Schools, Churches & Hospitals
Federal policy has historically designated schools, houses of worship, hospitals, and shelters as "sensitive locations" where immigration enforcement would not take place. That policy was officially rescinded in early 2025. Georgia could pass its own law restoring those protections within its borders.
Federal Tariffs & Georgia Businesses
Federal import tariffs on goods from China, Canada, Mexico, and other countries affect the prices Georgia businesses pay for materials and the prices consumers pay for goods. Georgia's congressional delegation and state legislators can advocate for or against federal tariff policies.
ACA Marketplace & Federal Healthcare Subsidies
The Affordable Care Act marketplace provides subsidized health insurance to millions of Georgians. Federal proposals to reduce or eliminate premium subsidies would increase costs for Georgians who purchase coverage through the marketplace. Georgia legislators can publicly advocate for or against federal changes that affect state residents.
Federal Education Funding
Federal Title I, IDEA (special education), and other programs provide significant funding to Georgia public schools, particularly for low-income students and students with disabilities. Proposed federal cuts or block-grant restructuring could reduce or create uncertainty in these funds. Georgia state legislators can advocate Georgia's interests in Washington.
Due Process & State Protections
Due process rights — the right to a hearing before being detained, the right to know what you are accused of, and the right to challenge your detention — apply to everyone on U.S. soil under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments, regardless of citizenship status. Federal enforcement practices have been challenged in court for bypassing these protections. Georgia could enact state-level procedural protections for its residents.
Federal Overreach: State Pushback
Some argue that when federal agencies act outside their constitutional authority or without proper oversight, states have both the right and the responsibility to push back through legislation, legal challenges, and refusal to cooperate. Others argue states should defer to federal authority and work change through elections and Congress.
FEMA & Federal Disaster Relief
FEMA provides federal disaster declarations and funding for recovery after hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, and other emergencies. Georgia has received multiple federal disaster declarations in recent years, including for flooding and severe storms in north Georgia. Recent federal proposals have discussed restructuring or reducing FEMA, shifting more disaster recovery costs to states. Georgia state legislators can advocate for FEMA funding levels and oppose restructuring that would reduce disaster relief available to Georgia communities.
Top Federal-State Priority
Which federal issue do you most want Georgia state legislators to take a clear position on?
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