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ALBANY, GA. --
Southwest Georgia leaders have been given the chance to participate in lectures on the Transportation Special Purpose Option Sales Tax and decide their stance.

On Thursday night, they took the issue to the people in a public forum.

State Representative Winfred Dukes, and Dougherty County Commissioners Gloria Gaines and John Hayes held an informational forum at the 2nd Mount Zion Church on Westover Road.

Representatives from the Georgia Department of Transportation and city leaders also attended the forum.

Community members were provided information about TSPLOST and what it will affect. They also engaged in a question and answer session.

"We're going to ask the people of this region to tax themselves for 130 million dollars over the next 10 years and it is very important that they know exactly what it is that they will be getting out of the process,” says State Representative Winfred Dukes.

If passed, the TSPLOST will raise the sales tax from 7 percent to 8 percent.