Rep. Jay Roberts, R-Ocilla, keeps saying that his transportation funding bill will continue evolving as it moves through the legislative process.
The bill designed to raise about $1 billion more a year for roads and bridges underwent several revisions before passing from Roberts’ House Transportation Committee last week, and even more changes are expected before the full House votes on the proposal. If approved by the House, the plan will churn through the Senate, with more revisions foreseen.
Roberts told Transportation members last week that he expects a House and Senate conference committee to fashion a final version during the session’s last days. “We’ll end up working this out in the end,” Roberts said.
The legislation was expected to be on the House calendar Friday, but continued opposition to the plan delayed House consideration. The Association County Commissioners of Georgia endorsed a previous version of the bill that allowed counties to levy a 6-cent-per-gallon fuel excise tax, but withdrew its support when that provision was replaced by changes in the local sales tax structure, including removing diesel fuel. Now the ACCG wants changes.
“The big one is to place diesel back in he local sales tax base,” ACCG legislative director Clint Mueller told InsiderAdvantage Georgia in an email. “We’re also looking for added flexibility in how we spend the transportation funds.”
The Georgia Municipal Association has opposed the legislation since its introduction, along with the Georgia School Boards Association. Those groups remain dissatisfied, despite the revisions. School boards say that they will continue to suffer a significant funds decline although the revised bill allows them to use some sales tax revenue for school buses.
Transit advocates were also disappointed by the revised bill. Roberts sought to dedicate new fees on alternative fuel vehicles to transit, but that language was removed because of constitutional questions raised by Sierra Club lobbyist Neill Herring.
Roberts, who’s frequently championed mass transit this session, expressed regret at removing the mass transit provision. He wants to include $100 million in bonds for transit in the general budget, as allowed by the Constitution.
Transportation Committee member Pat Gardner, D-Atlanta, voted for the transportation bill, although she expressed disappointment about the lack of transit-dedicated funds.
“I have a huge issue about transit,” Gardner said. Addressing Roberts, she continued, “I trust your openness and willingness to talk about transit and that there’s likely to be bonds in the final budget. I’m excited that transit has finally found its day in the sunshine. But it’s hard when you can’t see it.”
Now, mass transit backers will base their hopes on the transit bonds’ inclusion in the general budget, although Gov. Nathan Deal has expressed reservations. Roberts is negotiating with the governor’s office to include the bonds.
Mass transit supporters did achieve a victory last week when the Transportation Committee unanimously approved a bill to permanently remove the requirement that MARTA spend half of its revenue on capital and half for operations.
“I think it’s time given that MARTA is working very hard to clean up its own house,” said the legislation’s author, Rep. Mike Jacobs, R-Brookhaven. “As a show of good faith it’s important for us to meet MARTA halfway.”
Jacobs said the legislation is essentially symbolic, because the metro Atlanta transportation system spends close to 50 percent of its budget on debt service, which he characterized as capital. Now, the full House will consider the measure.
Proponents of intown “sustainability” received another boost when the State Senate overwhelmingly passed Senate Majority Whip Steve Gooch’s bill that would allow Atlanta’s Beltline to enter into public-private partnerships to further develop the 22-mile rail corridor encircling the city.
Gooch, R-Dahlonega, said the Beltline has already created 4,000 jobs and generated $2.4 billion in development. The Senate on Friday approved the bill 43-3, and it now goes to the House.
The legislation allows the Beltline corporation to enter into partnerships with private companies to finance and build projects such as hiking trails, sidewalks, bike lanes, streetscaping and transit. The bill, tailored to the Beltline’s dimensions, does not obligate state funds or give the Beltline company eminent domain power, Gooch said.
