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Joined: Fri Jul 17, 2009 6:18 pm Posts: 1115 Location: Rising Fawn, GA
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Like the last screwed up transportation legislation we get to vote on this new one. I bet you won't be able to guess who got this one done. Well now that the dust has settle here is what others are saying:
Quote:
State transportation tax is hot topic as cities meet
BRASELTON — A pair of Oakwood officials criticized the state’s new plan for a penny sales tax for transportation at a Monday night meeting of Hall County’s municipal leaders.
“This is a just a new way to fund the (Georgia Department of Transportation) and put the responsibility on the local elected officials,” said City Councilman Gary Anderson of the Transportation Investment Act of 2010.
“So if it doesn’t work, then it’s all our fault,” Anderson said. “... This is a fiasco. I think we need to tell our legislators this is crazy.”
Mayor Lamar Scroggs, also addressing the issue before the Joint Municipal Association, said the issue already has triggered a broad range of issues and questions among government leaders in Northeast Georgia.
“There was some movement due to the fact that it has to be put to the voters,” he said. “Hopefully, this coming session, (legislators) will do something to tweak the law. It’s just not right.”
Srikanth Yamala, transportation planning manager for the Gainesville-Hall County Metropolitan Planning Organization, gave a presentation on the prickly topic to the association, which was known as the Joint Local Government Association until Hall County was booted out in April.
The group meets quarterly to discuss issues of common concern and give updates from their cities, with Monday’s meeting held at Chateau Elan and sponsored by Braselton.
Yamala has talked publicly before on the transportation tax, which was passed by legislators this year in an effort to shore up transportation needs in the state.
The DOT is financially ailing, as is the state economy, and motor fuel taxes are slipping for several reasons, including motorists opting for more fuel-efficient cars. Meanwhile, road needs are looming — some $166 million in Hall County projects alone.
The new law would allow voters statewide to decide ultimately whether to add a penny sales tax to pay for transportation and transit improvements, from new roads to maintenance and operation.
But there are steps leading to that vote set to occur during the 2012 statewide general primary.
The law has created 12 districts throughout the state based on a map of the regional commissions, with Hall belonging to the 13-county Georgia Mountains Regional Commission.
Two representatives from each of the 13 counties in the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission now must form a regional transportation roundtable. That group must hold its first meeting after Nov. 15.
There are numerous other hurdles. But if a final project list is not approved by the roundtable by Oct. 15, 2011, a “district gridlock” will be declared and the district can’t call a new vote for 24 months.
Also, local governments’ must match state funding through the new Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant Program by 50 percent, compared to 10 percent if there isn’t a gridlock and the tax is approved by voters.
Further, “the bill states that each and every county can only get 25 percent of what is collected within (each) county and the rest of the money could be spent anywhere in the region,” Yamala said.
He pointed out during his remarks that members of the planning organization “can’t lobby for any bill.”
“We are here to educate you as to what the bill says and what our needs are,” Yamala said.
Scroggs, in later talking about the new law’s complexities, pointed toward Yamala but addressed the group in saying, “I would hate to be in his position to educate the general public about what this is all about. What a job.”
Post subject: Re: Transportation Tax to be Voted on
Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 12:54 pm
Joined: Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:58 pm Posts: 2179
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Don't worry there Chef, people will still not understand what is going on with the Transportation problem. They are too busy trying to kiss the Butt that Farted in their Face! One good look should educate this bunch of backwood wanna be's but as usual they "Like the Smell"!
Post subject: Re: Transportation Tax to be Voted on
Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 6:50 am
Joined: Fri Jul 17, 2009 8:34 pm Posts: 369 Location: Rising Fawn, GA
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When voters figure out that there is no opt out on this tax I think that may wake people up. Another penny sales tax would drive even more people from Dade County to Tennessee than go there now to shop even though Tennessee has a higher sales tax than Georgia. I wonder if anyone has pointed this out to local merchants?
_________________ Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. .. those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. C.S. Lewis
Post subject: Re: Transportation Tax to be Voted on
Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 9:12 am
Joined: Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:58 pm Posts: 2179
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People should be aware of how bad of shape this Dept. is in just by driving up and down our Interstate. It was a "Big Suprise" even to the employees of Found Money to be able to mow the grass. We are losing our State Roads by the day as more damage is getting done but yet we want to say how wonderful our Senator is doing here in Dade County. We even had the guts to PUSH Mike Evans for Congressman when in fact him and Mullis is a big part of the problem. All because Mike had promised 250 grand for a small City Street Scape and we still have yet to see any money.. And won't either. Besides that amount is nothing to fix anything but a few flower pots to line the street. Again what has been done in Dade County?
We used to have a fine road (although one of the shortest State Rds in Georgia) in Hwy 299 and now when we have a wreck at the 24-59 we get all the interstate traffic and it's tearing this road to peices. But this one cent will be used to expand Atlanta roads and help them with their issues long before it makes it to the "small counties" such a us here in Dade. Has everone forgotton the mess this past winter? What did the State DOT do for us here in Dade County? Mullis couldn't even return phone calls during that time... But I'm not trying to sway anyone for NOT voting for Mullis, the election is over and he won but that doesn't change the fact that he does NUTHIN for Dade County. Well except vote for tax increases and fee increases and screwed up transportation legislation.
Post subject: Re: Transportation Tax to be Voted on
Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 4:49 pm
Joined: Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:58 pm Posts: 2179
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Want to know how bad the Ga. DOT really is? Just look at the Exit signes here in Dade County. Also look at the signs that advertise such things as service stations and resturants here in this county. The tress and brush has about covered them up. It's easy to see for yourself....
Post subject: Re: Transportation Tax to be Voted on
Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 8:33 am
Joined: Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:58 pm Posts: 2179
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I remember all the "WORK" that went into the Billboard for Dade County.....lol..lol.. I think Scottie is still wondering if it was a good idea....lol..lol... Everthing here is like pulling teeth...
and here is the crafty deceptive wording that will appear:
Quote:
Shall _______ County's transportation system and the transportation network in this region and the state be improved by providing for a 1 percent special district transportation sales and use tax for the purpose of transportation projects and programs for a period of ten years?'
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