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Politics & Government

GDOT Official Pitches T-SPLOST

Matthew Fowler says Georgia invests less per capita in transportation than any state but Tennessee. But opponents say too much funding is dedicated to light rail and not enough to road improvements.

Matthew Fowler was the keynote speaker at the Fall 2011 Economic Development Luncheon at the  Thursday.

The Georgia Department of Transportation's Assistant Planning Administrator was in Cumming to pitch the T-SPLOST that supporters say will generate $18.7 billion for projects aimed at solving metro Atlanta's traffic woes.

Under House Bill 277, voters in each of Georgia’s 12-planning regions must decide whether to impose a 1-percent sales tax to fund regional projects developed by local elected officials. Proponents have about eight months to convince voters to impose another tax on themselves. The referendum is set for next July.

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Fowler said, Georgia invests less per capita in transportation than any state except Tennessee and has the second lowest gas tax in the nation, behind Alaska. Funding for the state's transportation needs comes primarily from two sources: a federal gas tax and state gas tax.

"The current revenue streams are not adequate to meet our needs," Fowler said.

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Other states, he added, have a broader base of revenue. In addition to the state and federal gas tax, many states have toll roads, a state tax, license and tag fees.

"Georgia has license and tag fees, but the revenue isn't targeted for transportation," he said.

Proponents also point out that 75 cents of every dollar collected will go to regional transportation projects and 25 cents will remain within the city or county where it is collected.

But formidable forces are already lining up to defeat the tax.

State Tea Party leaders Julianne Thompson and Debbie Dooley released a written statement last month announcing their opposition.

"Now that the final project list has been released we are more determined than ever to make sure this T-SPLOST is DOA. For instance, the idea of targeting $95 million in taxpayers money to a light rail study in Gwinnett that no one will ever use is fiscal irresponsibility at it’s worst.

"We all agree there is a traffic problem in metro-Atlanta, and we support infrastructure improvements like bridges, road improvements, lane widening, traffic lights, etc. But let’s be frank, this is not an infrastructure improvement plan. The project list is not targeted to benefit the majority of citizens in the areas they need relief the most. This is a mass transit tax targeted at financial Titanic MARTA. We are in the process of forming a PAC to help candidates and issues. We will educate citizens, fight this, and turn-out the votes when it comes up on the ballot."

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