Officially known as the Transportation Investment Act, but often referred to as TSPLOST, the initiative, if it passes, would add a 10-year one-cent sales tax on most items. The tax would be used to fund pre-approved transportation improvement projects.
Approval of the act would be region-specific, rather than statewide or county-specific. Walker County belongs to the northwest Georgia region, which is made up of 14 counties: Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk and Whitfield. A majority vote throughout these counties would still pass the act for the region, although individual counties may vote against it.
Ten projects have already been approved for Walker County, including six bridges, various intersection and road improvements, the installation of sidewalks on Ga. 341 from Hunter Drive to Glass Mill Road and, bearing the largest price tag, the creation of a connector via Wilson Road between the Tennessee state line and Ga. 2. The theoretical project has been a hoped-for dream of Walker County officials for many years and is already nicknamed the Central Avenue Interchange.
These 10 Walker County projects (and their estimated costs) have been pre-approved for construction with funds from the Transportation Investment Act, should the July 31 referendum pass.
Crow Gap Row bridge: $1,824,449
Euclid Road bridge: $2,624,208
Hog Jowl Road bridge: $1,667,733
Intersection improvements – Five Points Road and Osburn School Road: $915,056
Johnson Road improvements – from Mission Ridge Road to Gravitt Road: $1,463,189
Old Lee School Road bridge near Trion Highway: $1,722,401
Sidewalks on Ga. 341 from Hunter Drive to Glass Mill Road: $153,808
Vulcan Road bridge near Vulcan Drive: $1,726,046
Wilson Road connector – Tennessee state line to Ga. 2: $20,000,000
The estimated cost of the 10 Walker County projects totals more than $34 million; it is anticipated that the Transportation Investment Act would provide the funds in full.
Over the 10-year period of the tax, Walker County sales would generate a projected $1,487,935,178 and create an estimated 40,174 jobs, mostly in construction work.
As outlined in the Transportation Investment Act, 75 percent of the funds generated in each county would go toward the pre-approved projects, while the remaining 25 percent would be re-distributed to the city and county governments based on a ratio of population to total road mileage. The re-distributed funds would then be available for local governments to use on various other transportation projects at their discretion.
Under this system, for the year 2013, the first year the TIA would be in effect, unincorporated Walker County would receive an estimated $1,975,602, Chickamauga would receive $79,123, LaFayette $176,640, Lookout Mountain $43,672 and Rossville $90,904. It is hoped that the kickback funds in subsequent years would mirror these figures.
At the end of the 10-year period, the tax would end, and could only be renewed with another vote. Should the Transportation Investment Act fail to pass on July 31, none of the pre-approved projects will automatically move forward.
Instead, local governments will at least have a list of priorities on which they can base their future road development projects, should the money ever become available elsewhere.
The July 31 referendum will be asked as a “yes” or “no” question and will be presented as follows: “Shall Walker County’s transportation system and the transportation network in this region and the state be improved by providing for a one percent special district transportation sales and use tax for the purpose of transportation projects and programs for a period of ten years.”
For more information on the Transportation Investment Act, contact the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission or visit nwgrc.org.
How about they just add a penny or 2 to the gas tax to fix this problem.Or we could ticket all the people impeding traffic by driving below the speed limit in the left lanes. I encounter this several times a day.The state could make millions and improve traffic flow so that we may not need the new roads.
The fat cats are taking care of their friends in the affluent Northeast side of Atlanta and leaving the Southeast, more impoverished side to do without needed projects.
Truth is, the 10 year tax is not enough to fund the 20 year projects (including maintenance) that are planned.
The problem is not that it's a tax, the problem is that it's messed up legislation. Our legislators on both sides of the isle could have done a better job.
When you ask a politician supporting the tax, about T-SPLOST,they point to the fact that they "allowed" it to be a referendum so the people can decide. What they don't tell you is that they are spending millions our tax dollars promoting it and they worded the ballot question to tilt in favor of a yes vote. For those of you who want to know the truth about T-SPLOST, there is an excellent website, paid for by volunteers, with all the information needed to make an educated vote on July 31. www.traffictruth.net.
Every single time this county has asked for a penny tax they've said, This means people from other states (Tennessee) help build or schools, etc.
With this TSPLOST we would take away any reason for Tennessee citizens to spend money in Catoosa. Our gas already costs more than theirs, they don't have to come to Georgia to buy lottery tickets anymore either. No, this tax would effectively send Georgians across the line into Tennessee...possibly in a moving van.
Seriously, they have no state income tax. When they get their car tags they don't have all the taxes we do. I can name quite a few reasons to leave Georgia in my rear view mirror.
Enough is more than enough! Like they say,
A taxpayer voting for Obama is like a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders.
Well,
A tax payer voting for more taxes is like a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders!
Every sitting politician in this region is in serious danger of losing their office! That means even the water board. We are perfectly aware the 40% increase they're forcing on us will send many water bills higher than electric bills. Many already are. Thank God I don't have sewer! My $11 water bill is the only affordable bill I have. I had cable cut off last year. Obama care will wreck my budget, cost me more than I pay now and my out of pocket shoots up to 30%.
No, no, no, NOOOOO!!!!!! No more taxes!
I will vote 'no' on this one.
That 25% will be used to reward the politically well connected and punish the areas that don't vote the "right" way in local elections. If I wanted to design a plan to make the roadbuilding special interests happy, this is the plan that I would come up with.
Anybody that believes that this tax would expire in 10 years is huffing glue.Just look at the E-SPLOST. You can't kill that tax even though it has been around a long time and our schools are pretty well built out.
Just say no.