Chamber directors endorse T-SPLOST

“For many of the communities in our region, that 25 percent is much more than they get now,” Short reported.

Bicknell, who chairs the Jackson County Board of Commissioners, told the group that the county has identified “17-18 projects that did not make the major (region) list” for funding with its share of the 25 percent. Jackson County would receive about $150,000 a year from that portion of the revenue, and its municipalities would also receive funds.

Jefferson Mayor Jim Joiner reported that the city government also identified projects to be funded with its share of the 25 percent being retained for local projects.

“We budget SPLOST for road maintenance,” he noted. “This will more than double our money, and if you live in the city limits, you know we have a lot of roads that need work.”

In passing the Transportation Investment Act, Georgia essentially changed its method for funding transportation. If all of the 12 districts in Georgia approve their referendums, the tax could generate $19 billion over 10 years. To give communities an incentive to approve the tax, the law ups the local community’s share of project costs from 10 percent for those that pass the tax to 30 percent for those who do not.
“This is the way the legislature has chosen to generate transportation funds in Georgia,” Short said.

Joiner made the motion that the chamber endorse the July 31 referendum. No one expressed any opposition to the move.

The vote came minutes after the chamber directors accepted a proposed bylaws change clarifying its policy regarding such endorsements. The revised policy retains the admonition against endorsing or opposing candidates in partisan elections.