The Capitol Report: March 6, 2008 — Vol. 4, No. 7

House Transportation Chair Endorses Regional Approach

House Transportation Chairman Vance Smith has released a new draft of his transportation funding legislation that mirrors the recommendations of the Get Georgia Moving Coalition, which includes the Regional Business Coalition and over 40 other transportation stakeholder groups.

Under the revised language, a constitutional amendment will be voted on in November 2008 that allows regions, through their Regional Development Centers, to propose up to a 1% general use sales tax to fund transportation projects in that region. The regional development center for the metro area is the Atlanta Regional Commission.

A region would then be able to hold a referendum asking voters to approve the tax through a ballot question that lists the projects to be completed, the maximum amount to be collected, and the date at which the tax would end. Regions would be able to hold referendums beginning in July 2009.

Senate leaders have indicated that they are supportive of the approach although there are still some final details that would have to be worked out. Senate Transportation Chair Jeff Mullis said at a press conference Thursday morning that the two sides were close to an agreement.

**The Capitol Report is provided by the Cherokee County Chamber, in partnership with the Regional Business Coalition. The Regional Business Coalition (RBC) is comprised of 16 local chambers of commerce and business organizations in the metro Atlanta region representing over 16,000 businesses. To learn more, please visit www.rbcatl.com.