Regional T-Splost Transportation Referendum included on July 31 ballot
Voters in Appling County will vote July 31 on a transportation referendum many say will provide safer roads, more jobs, and better transportation infrastructure for commuting, traveling, and economic development activities. The transportation referendum, known to many as the Regional T-SPLOST, was authorized by the Georgia Transportation Investment Act of 2010. Twelve special tax districts, aligned with Regional Commission boundaries, will each decide if they wish to support an additional penny in sales tax to fund a predetermined list of transportation projects within that region developed by local elected officials from that region. All funds collected by the extra penny in sales tax in each region would be only spent in that region. Appling County is a member of the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Commission, and one of 17 counties in the Region. Other counties within the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Region Special Tax District include: Bleckley, Candler, Dodge, Emanuel, Evans, Jeff Davis, Johnson, Laurens, Montgomery, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Wayne, Wheeler, and Wilcox.
The TIA Transportation Referendum, if passed, would levy a one percent sales and use tax for a period of ten years (2013-2022), or until estimated revenues are raised. The tax would then sunset, and would require additional voter, local, and state authorization to be reinstituted. Almost $400 million nominal dollars, to be spent only on locally decided transportation projects, are expected to be raised in the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Region by the TIA sales tax, if approved by voters. The vote will pass or fail on a regional plurality basis, and individual counties cannot opt out. If passed, the penny in sales tax will be levied in all Region counties regardless of individual county votes.
The TIA Transportation Referendum, if passed in the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Region, would provide new transportation funding to fund 752 regionwide local transportation projects, primarily resurfacing projects, with projects located in every Region county and most Region cities. The tax would also fund 12 regional projects directly benefitting 12 of 17 Region counties, and indirectly benefitting all. These local projects will provide much greater assistance, and many more miles of resurfacing and pothole repair than cities and counties have received in recent years from the LARP (Local Assistance Road Program) and LMIG (Local Maintenance Improvement Grant) programs of the state. In addition to the list of local and regional projects proposed for funding by the TIA referendum, which are both funded by the 75 percent “Regional” pot of expenditures authorized in the 2010 law, the approved TIA referendum would also provide significant yearly revenues in cash subsidies to all 80 local governments in the Region, no matter how small, from the TIA law’s 25 percent “Local” pot. These funds could be used for any transportation purpose authorized by the TIA law, as specified by the local governing body, including maintenance funding of its road or street department.
Within Appling County, the TIA sales tax would fund the following projects, and provide the following estimated yearly local revenues:
Local Projects:
Appling County – Three projects, including resurfacing 4.5 miles of roads and other paving improvements on 16.3 miles estimated to cost $5,272,800
City of Baxley – 47 projects, to resurface 9.82 miles of streets estimated to cost $1,960,180
City of Surrency – Three projects, to resurface 0.71 mile of streets estimated to cost $106,400
Yearly Revenues for Transportation Purposes:
Appling County - $636,306
City of Baxley - $61,739
City of Graham - $4,670
City of Surrency - $5,113
Regionwide, the TIA sales tax will fund over $115.3 million for local projects within 17 counties. In addition, the TIA sales tax would provide $139.9 million for the 12 regional projects. However, these regional projects are expected to cost over $250 million, with the Region’s local elected officials having secured leverage agreements with the Georgia Department of Transportation to provide match through other existing state and federal transportation funds of the expected $116 million difference. These regional projects are important for future economic development activities within the Region. The projects include the near completion of four-laning U.S. 1 within the Region, the completion of four-laning U.S. 23 between Eastman and Cochran, and the needed construction of a new bridge over the Oconee River in Laurens County, as well as other important projects.
Within Appling County, the regional project proposed to be funded by the TIA sales tax is bridge replacement of SR 4/US 1 over the Altamaha River, its Overflow, and Williams Creek.
The entire list of projects for the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Region, both local and regional, which would be funded by the TIA sales tax may be accessed on the GDOT website, www.dot.ga.gov\transportationreferendum, the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Commission website, www.hogarc.org, or the Georgia Transportation Alliance website, www.connectgeorgia2012.com.
The TIA tax yearly local cash revenues to all governments are expected to exceed $85 million in total over the life of the sales tax. The expected yearly cash revenues to all the local governments of the Region may also be found on the GDOT website www.dot.ga.gov\transportationreferendum. Other information is available as well on these websites.
The Georgia Transportation Alliance has noted that despite the growth Georgia has experienced, Georgia currently invests less per capita in transportation than almost every state, except Tennessee. Georgia currently relies almost exclusively on the gas tax for funding transportation improvements, and revenues from this source continue to decline because of more fuel-efficient automobiles and people driving fewer miles. Current transportation funding in Georgia is not keeping up with its growth and infrastructure improvement needs and may compromise future economic growth. Raising the gas tax to the extent needed is not feasible, since it is estimated a 25 cents/gallon gas tax increase would be needed to match the expected Transportation Investment Act revenues generated from the one cent sales tax.
The Georgia Transportation Alliance has also argued the TIA one cent sales tax would create jobs and more economic opportunity, in addition to providing safer roads and improved transportation infrastructure. A Federal Highway Administration Study has indicated a $1 billion transportation project investment creates and supports over 27,800 jobs and generates up to $2.5 billion in direct and indirect economic activity. Under this analysis, the $400 million in TIA funds to be raised and spent in the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Region would create or support over 10,700 jobs.
Without doubt, if the TIA tax is not funded, more local general tax revenues would have to be utilized to avail local use of state LMIG or other transportation funds since the TIA law requires the local match for those assistance programs to rise from ten percent to 30 percent in that case. More likely, without the TIA tax revenues, many of the local projects proposed for funding may be delayed for many years, if accomplished at all, depending on local circumstances. The proposed $115+ million to be spent primarily on local resurfacing projects out of “Regional” TIA project funds is unique to the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Region, and a unique funding opportunity for Appling County and Region citizens. Each voter will have to decide on July 31 if smoother, safer roads; enhanced economic opportunities; and improved transportation infrastructure, is worth an additional penny in sales tax.
The TIA Transportation Referendum, if passed in the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Region, would provide new transportation funding to fund 752 regionwide local transportation projects, primarily resurfacing projects, with projects located in every Region county and most Region cities. The tax would also fund 12 regional projects directly benefitting 12 of 17 Region counties, and indirectly benefitting all. These local projects will provide much greater assistance, and many more miles of resurfacing and pothole repair than cities and counties have received in recent years from the LARP (Local Assistance Road Program) and LMIG (Local Maintenance Improvement Grant) programs of the state. In addition to the list of local and regional projects proposed for funding by the TIA referendum, which are both funded by the 75 percent “Regional” pot of expenditures authorized in the 2010 law, the approved TIA referendum would also provide significant yearly revenues in cash subsidies to all 80 local governments in the Region, no matter how small, from the TIA law’s 25 percent “Local” pot. These funds could be used for any transportation purpose authorized by the TIA law, as specified by the local governing body, including maintenance funding of its road or street department.
Within Appling County, the TIA sales tax would fund the following projects, and provide the following estimated yearly local revenues:
Local Projects:
Appling County – Three projects, including resurfacing 4.5 miles of roads and other paving improvements on 16.3 miles estimated to cost $5,272,800
City of Baxley – 47 projects, to resurface 9.82 miles of streets estimated to cost $1,960,180
City of Surrency – Three projects, to resurface 0.71 mile of streets estimated to cost $106,400
Yearly Revenues for Transportation Purposes:
Appling County - $636,306
City of Baxley - $61,739
City of Graham - $4,670
City of Surrency - $5,113
Regionwide, the TIA sales tax will fund over $115.3 million for local projects within 17 counties. In addition, the TIA sales tax would provide $139.9 million for the 12 regional projects. However, these regional projects are expected to cost over $250 million, with the Region’s local elected officials having secured leverage agreements with the Georgia Department of Transportation to provide match through other existing state and federal transportation funds of the expected $116 million difference. These regional projects are important for future economic development activities within the Region. The projects include the near completion of four-laning U.S. 1 within the Region, the completion of four-laning U.S. 23 between Eastman and Cochran, and the needed construction of a new bridge over the Oconee River in Laurens County, as well as other important projects.
Within Appling County, the regional project proposed to be funded by the TIA sales tax is bridge replacement of SR 4/US 1 over the Altamaha River, its Overflow, and Williams Creek.
The entire list of projects for the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Region, both local and regional, which would be funded by the TIA sales tax may be accessed on the GDOT website, www.dot.ga.gov\transportationreferendum, the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Commission website, www.hogarc.org, or the Georgia Transportation Alliance website, www.connectgeorgia2012.com.
The TIA tax yearly local cash revenues to all governments are expected to exceed $85 million in total over the life of the sales tax. The expected yearly cash revenues to all the local governments of the Region may also be found on the GDOT website www.dot.ga.gov\transportationreferendum. Other information is available as well on these websites.
The Georgia Transportation Alliance has noted that despite the growth Georgia has experienced, Georgia currently invests less per capita in transportation than almost every state, except Tennessee. Georgia currently relies almost exclusively on the gas tax for funding transportation improvements, and revenues from this source continue to decline because of more fuel-efficient automobiles and people driving fewer miles. Current transportation funding in Georgia is not keeping up with its growth and infrastructure improvement needs and may compromise future economic growth. Raising the gas tax to the extent needed is not feasible, since it is estimated a 25 cents/gallon gas tax increase would be needed to match the expected Transportation Investment Act revenues generated from the one cent sales tax.
The Georgia Transportation Alliance has also argued the TIA one cent sales tax would create jobs and more economic opportunity, in addition to providing safer roads and improved transportation infrastructure. A Federal Highway Administration Study has indicated a $1 billion transportation project investment creates and supports over 27,800 jobs and generates up to $2.5 billion in direct and indirect economic activity. Under this analysis, the $400 million in TIA funds to be raised and spent in the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Region would create or support over 10,700 jobs.
Without doubt, if the TIA tax is not funded, more local general tax revenues would have to be utilized to avail local use of state LMIG or other transportation funds since the TIA law requires the local match for those assistance programs to rise from ten percent to 30 percent in that case. More likely, without the TIA tax revenues, many of the local projects proposed for funding may be delayed for many years, if accomplished at all, depending on local circumstances. The proposed $115+ million to be spent primarily on local resurfacing projects out of “Regional” TIA project funds is unique to the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Region, and a unique funding opportunity for Appling County and Region citizens. Each voter will have to decide on July 31 if smoother, safer roads; enhanced economic opportunities; and improved transportation infrastructure, is worth an additional penny in sales tax.
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