By Ariel Hart
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Politics
April 21, 2010
Breaking a legislative traffic jam that has endured for more than three years, the Georgia General Assembly on Wednesday voted to allow referendums throughout the state on transportation funding.
Taking to the well for the first time this session, Speaker David Ralston in a rousing speech led the Georgia House to pass the bill, HB 277, by a vote of 141-29. The Senate passed it 43-8 shortly afterward.
The bill would divide the state into 12 regions. A “roundtable” of local elected officials in each region, working with an appointee of the governor, would draw up a list of projects for the region.
The region could then submit the list to its voters for their approval in a referendum, along with a 1 percent sales tax to fund them. No county could opt out of a region’s tax, but a roundtable could decline to hold a referendum in the region.
If the bill becomes law, it also will probably ease the draconian cuts MARTA was facing, though it was unclear Wednesday night by exactly how much. It lifts, for three years, a restriction on how the transit agency can use its revenues from sales taxes, freeing up several million dollars for operations.
The strong margins of support in both houses delighted supporters.
For the rest of the article please click on link: http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/house-senate-pass-transportation-481503.html?cxtype=rss_news_81963
© 2010 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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