Members of the Georgia NAACP took a stand against the transportation local option sales tax on Thursday.
The group's president Edward DuBose says he's concerned the T-SPLOST will not benefit minority and women workers.
He says the state already under-uses workers from those two groups and believes that will continue if the tax passes.
"We all need to come together and send the message that we're being under-utilized, and we are getting ready to hand billions of dollars to this state on a silver platter that will not use our businesses," says DuBose.
DuBose and the NAACP want legislators to rethink the language of the T-SPLOST. They believe the current version will take a large toll on the lower and middle classes and not on the wealthier taxpayers.
"Make no mistake, we know that the roads need to be repaired," says DuBose. "But if we're driving across a repaired road and we don't have money in our pockets then the feeling is still the same."
The Georgia Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the Georgia Black Constructors Association also oppose the T-SPLOST.
The city of Macon is working on a contract with Alex Habersham with Macon Black Pages to represent minority and women businesses. Habersham says he's more optimistic about the benefits of the tax.
He says, "If people in leadership positions approach it in the right manner, it will accomplish a lot with equal distribution of contracts."
Taxpayers will make their decisions on the T-SPLOST on July 31st.