If voters approve a new one-cent sales tax for transportation projects, it could be one of the greatest economic tools in Georgia, according to an official pitching the benefits of the proposal.
“This is the best option on the table. Is it perfect? No. Is it the best thing going? Absolutely,” said Doug Callaway, executive director of the Georgia Transportation Alliance — a nonprofit group affiliated with the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.
Come July 31, voters in 12 districts throughout the state will be asked to consider a 10-year, one-cent sales tax that will fund transportation projects in their region.
The Northeast Georgia region — which includes Jackson, Barrow and Madison counties, among others — is expected to collect an estimated $987.9 million over the 10-year sales tax period.
Of that amount, 75 percent would be earmarked to a number of transportation projects that were decided upon in the fall by a regional roundtable of local officials.
In Jackson County, the projects would include the extension of Braselton Parkway west to Ga. Hwy. 211 in Barrow County and east to Ga. Hwy. 60, an East Jefferson Bypass, a new interchange on Interstate 85 at Ga. Hwy. 60, widening U.S. Hwy. 129 from Ga. Hwy. 332 to the Hall County line, and realigning Ga. Hwy. 82.
In Barrow County, the projects would include a West Winder Bypass, improvements along Ga. Hwy. 211 from Ga. Hwy. 124 to Thompson Mill Road, and new interchanges on Ga. Hwy. 316 at Ga. Hwy. 81 and Ga. Hwy. 11.
The remaining 25 percent of revenue from the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (T-SPLOST) would be given to cities and counties in each region to dole out for local projects that were not included on the roundtable-approved list.
But to encourage voters to approve the T-SPLOST referendum in their region, the state’s business leaders are leading a grassroots effort to promote the economic benefits of the proposal.
Callaway formerly spearheaded a transportation advocacy group in Florida for nine years. He started his new job with the Georgia Transportation Alliance in November.
That group was created by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce in response to the passage of the state’s Transportation Investment Act of 2010. Connect Georgia is the campaign organization that was established to inform the public and advocate for the passage of the T-SPLOST in each district.
Callaway spoke on Wednesday, Jan. 11, to a small group of mostly public officials at the Braselton Police and Municipal Court Building about the T-SPLOST. The town hall-style meeting was hosted by Jackson County Commissioner Bruce Yates.
Callaway outlined the key points of the T-SPLOST that voters will likely hear until they head to the polls this summer: More jobs, safer roads and revenue that stays in the region.
“We’ve got high unemployment, let’s be honest, and little hope for an immediate turnaround,” Callaway said, while pointing to University of Georgia experts who estimate that the economy won’t improve until 2020.
Those regions that approve the T-SPLOST stand to possibly create more immediate and long-term jobs — while recovering more quickly from the economic downturn, he explained.
“We’ll come out faster and we’ll come out ahead of our competition,” Callaway said.
Those regions that don’t pass the T-SPLOST will be at an economic disadvantage, he added.
The state law that created the T-SPLOST says those regions that don’t pass the proposal may put it on the ballot again after two years from the initial election. Meanwhile, local governments in those regions would have to pay a higher percentage of their share for transportation projects — compared to a lower cost if voters approved the measure.
Jackson County commission chairman Hunter Bicknell — who also served as chairman of the Northeast Georgia regional roundtable — has said that there is no “Plan B” for funding transportation project, if the measure fails.
Callaway called the T-SPLOST the “best economic tool in Georgia’s history,” as prospective companies look at transportation infrastructure in the areas they are considering doing business.
He further explained that while the Georgia Department of Transportation will be involved in the projects, the sales tax revenue raised in each region will remain in those regions.
“The money is not going to Atlanta to spend at their discretion,” Callaway said.
A self-described fiscal conservative who favors limited government, Callaway said the T-SPLOST is incremental tax reform. He further addressed concerns that the T-SPLOST creates a new regional sales tax, as local governments are cutting services to prevent raising taxes.
“This is, quite frankly, the model we ought to be using on a whole host of paying for government services,” Callaway said.
For more information about the T-SPLOST — including a full list of projects for each region — visit www.connectgeorgia2012.com.
So why would we vote for yet another 1 cent sales tax? Yes, I realize there is T-SPLOST, E-SPLOST and just plain old SPLOST.
A TAX IS A TAX.
"wellfare recipents"
Typical tea-tard.
Also: The money is being "Earmarked" for projects to Route people away from us, most of the money will be spent to help Out of Town people Go Around Winder & Barrow County, NOT Bring business and people to us.
Except for Royal Braselton who gets to disrupt GA Hwy 211's Traffic with Tractor Trailers and a Traffic Circle so they can have another Industrial Parkway for the benefit of mainly JACKSON Co & The Town of Braselton.
I am NOT(WE aren't)getting my tax moneys worth on this, it appears to be among the continuing RAW DEALS for Barrow County as usual.
So there is several reasons to VOTE NO!!!!!.
Someone pipe up and give us a decent reason why to vote yes...
All one needs to do is sit in the Walgreens parking lot or on Industry lane on Bankhead hwy and watch what the 18 wheeler drivers have to go through. I think giving them an easy bypass away from the congestion of Winder traffic to travel between 316 and 85 would be a huge selling point for any business with commercial vehicles to relocate to Barrow County. If new businesses are brought into the county and build their warehouses along the bypass the employees could still travel downtown to eat at the many restaurants.
It would it also help many non commercial vehicle drivers get to Gwinnett County faster. I say this is not a bad thing because how many residents live in Barrow and work in other counties. Barrow does not yet have the commercial growth to compete with the other metro Atlanta counties, but if the commute was easier or a little bit quicker maybe more people would move into our county which could result in fewer abandoned homes which could result in rising property values.
The immediate area of downtown Winder is too congested to attract new business. Where in downtown Winder would the Barrow Crossing Shopping Center and the Carmike Theater go? Where in downtown Winder could the military build a training center such as the one on Bethlehem road in Statham? Don’t look at businesses outside of the downtown area as a bad thing. Overall county growth needs to be the focus, not just downtown Winder. I believe if the proper attention is paid to attracting new business along 316 between Carl Bethlehem and hwy 11, the money will flow back into other areas of the county.
get a leg up in 2012
You can have EITHER the HOT TOLL LANES
OR
I will Vote Yes for the T-SPLOST
----NOT BOTH, One or the Other, Pick ONE
I will not be Fully S#$&wed over Two Times. I would like to help you out, Help us out BUT now I have wast more gas, fight more traffic and even lose money for your HOT Toll Lanes, So I can't afford to say Yes.
The other newspaper has scoooped the journal on this by reporting that yearwood and his minions have voted to give the money to their freind to go lobby for us all.
I have said this before, but it bares saying again. censorship is never a pretty thing no matter who is doing it