ATLANTA (Feb. 4, 2010) – Members of the Democratic House and Senate Caucuses today announced the Transportation Jobs Development Act. The proposal includes a Constitutional Amendment levying a one percent sales tax to fund transportation projects within newly defined special tax districts. In addition, the amendment will dedicate the forth penny collected on motor fuel to any general transportation purpose.
“Georgia is losing jobs and transportation funding to other states because of a lack of leadership. Now is the time for us to step forward and lead,” said Senate Minority Leader Robert Brown.
This Constitutional Amendment creates a metropolitan transportation district concurrent with the 10 county ARC region. This region includes Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Dekalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale Counties. Management and supervision of this district shall be vested in a district board consisting of those members of the metropolitan area planning and development commission holding elective public office, to serve during their service as members of the commission and until their successors are dually elected and qualified.
The Bill provides for at least 50 percent of the sales tax to be used for transit within said defined region, with the exception of Fulton and DeKalb counties. Fulton and DeKalb already collect a one cent MARTA tax. They shall not be required to use this tax for transit, but for any general transportation purposes. (i.e. roads. interchanges, multi-use paths, sidewalks, bicycle lanes and all other transportation projects that are not transit) The one penny MARTA tax currently being levied in Fulton and DeKalb counties will be exempt from the state mandated tax cap.
Counties beyond the metropolitan transportation district are exempt from the regional transportation tax, however, the bill does not prohibit counties outside the metropolitan transportation district from joining in inter-governmental agreements with other counties and do a maximum one penny T-SPLOST and spend that revenue according to their agreements.
Counties within metropolitan transportation district may opt-out by a simple majority of that county’s commission within 45 days of the passing of the resolution. In which case, the remaining counties would reorganize based on the absence of those counties and divide transportation projects among them. In addition, the remaining counties will have 30 days from the expiration of the 45 day period to opt-out of that agreement.
In addition to levying a penny sales tax, the amendment will dedicate the forth penny collected on motor fuel tax to any general transportation purpose. As of FY 2009, the forth penny for motor fuel tax has generated over $137 million. In addition, the amendment calls for a 25 percent phase in on the dedication of the fourth penny motor fuel beginning on July 1, 2012 and ending July 1, 2015.
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Sen. Robert Brown serves as Democratic Leader. He represents the 26th Senate District which includes Twiggs County and portions of Bibb, Houston, and Wilkinson counties. He may be reached at his office at 404.656.5035 or by email at robert.brown@senate.ga.gov.
Sen. Doug Stoner represents the 6th Senate District which includes portions of Cobb County. He may be reached by phone at 404.463.2518 or by email at doug.stoner@senate.ga.gov.
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
February 4, 2010
For Information Contact:
Raegan Weber, Press Director
Jennifer Kitt, Press Office Coordinator
Jennifer.Kitt@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028