T-SPLOST Meeting Attracts Few Voters

The public information meeting concerning the upcoming Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (T-SPLOST), which will be on the ballot this coming July 31, was held Tuesday evening at he county courthouse.

Jim Dove and Mott Beck of the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission were on hand to cover all the details and answer any questions of the T-SPLOST, which was created by the Georgia Transportation Investment Act of 2010.

Ten concerned citizens showed up for the meeting. Also in attendance were DOT Engineers Jimmy Smith and Neil O’Brien, County Commission Chair Alan Cox, and County Manager Greg Wood, who opened the informal meeting by introducing Mr. Dove.

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Mr. Dove explained that he was not there to promote T-SPLOST, but rather to explain it and answer any concerns or questions. There were questions concerning the right-of-way for proposed passing lanes, the wisdom of the choice of projects for Jasper County, and the integrity of the projects.

County commissioners and other authorities have met for some time to set regional priorities. The project is in motion and Mr. Dove gave the follow legislation overview of it:

•Creates 12 special tax districts based on Regional Commission boundaries. Jasper County is in the Northeast Georgia Region along with 12 other counties.

•Each district can levy one percent sales tax for 10 years.

•Money raised in a district stays in that district, and individual counties cannot opt out.

•Final approval of all projects have been approved by a state roundtable from requests from each county.

•If approved, funds will begin flowing in the first quarter of 2013.

Regional funds expected to be raised and how they will be shared if T-SPLOST is approved:

•In 2013 the Northeast Region is projected to raise approximately $76.5 million of which 75 percent will go toward approved projects.

•The remaining 25 percent will be dedicated to local transportation projects.

•Over the 10 year period economists project that Jasper County’s 25 percent would come to approximately $950,000 per year.

•The total amount of funds generated in each district are divided among local governments in the district based on a formula of one-fifth population and four-fifths centerline lane miles in the county. This formula favors rural counties and means that Jasper County will receive considerably more funds than are paid in sales tax within the county.

Projects approved for Jasper County to be funded by the 75 percent:

•Two passing lane projects on Hwy 83. The first would be a two mile north-bound section beginning at the eight-mile marker north of the Ocmulgee River. The second would be a one and three-quarter mile section between mile markers 17.7 and 19.15 between Monticello and Shady Dale.

•A new leg of bypass road from Hwy 16 East and Hwy 83.

•According to the GDOT both projects are slated to begin in 2013.

The Incentives to approving T-SPLOST:

•If the tax is approved in the district collection may begin 80 days following the election, and local governments in the district must only match 10 percent of their local maintenance and improvement grants for the next 10 years.

•If the tax is not approved in the district local governments must match 30 percent of their local maintenance and improvements grants, and the referendum cannot be revisited for two years.

Built into the Georgia Transportation Investment Act is a Citizens Review Panel to preserve its integrity:

•A five member citizens review panel is created and charged with review of the administration of the projects and programs included on the investment list.

•Members of the panel must be residents of the region. The Speaker of the House has three appointees and the Lt. Governor has two.

•Beginning in 2013 this panel must annually report to the General Assembly on project progress and expenditures.