Dedicated readers are no doubt aware there is an election coming up in November. A big one. It could potentially be the largest election ever and have the highest turnout percentage in decades. Among the many items on the ballot for Georgia voters this year is the Georgia Dedicating Tax and Fee Revenue Amendment.
It’s a little long for an amendment name and does not really indicate what exactly it does but basically, if approved, the revenue raised from an imposed tax or fee would actually go directly towards the purposes specified by the fee statute.
Currently, these funds – such as one of the most well-known, the tire fee – go into the state’s general fund. These funds are then often siphoned off into other directions than the ones for which they were collected. It also happens to pad the state coffers, making the decisions just that much easier on the General Assembly. The late Rep. Jay Powell advocated for the bill for many sessions, often calling it the “anti-bait and switch” bill.
“I enthusiastically support the Georgia Dedicating Tax and Fee Revenue Amendment. While this amendment will address numerous fees collected by the state for identified purposes, I am specifically interested in its application to the Solid Waste Trust Fund which is responsible for cleaning up illegal tire dump sites,” said Rep. Randy Nix (R-69 LaGrange).
This fund is supported by the state mandated fee you pay every time you buy a new tire. Over the last ten years, nearly $3 million in revenue meant for the Solid Waste Trust Fund has been diverted into general spending. Rep. Nix has also been pushing for legislation over the past several years to address illegal dumping and promote tire recycling.
Tire recycling is not just necessary for the environmental damage their dumping causes, but products derived from recycled rubber are excellent components for asphalt used to pave roads and streets. This very high volume use of recycled tires can be a market based solution to a troubling environmental issue.
“I believe using the Solid Waste Trust Funds as intended will go a long way towards both cleaning up the environment as well as incentivizing recycling creating quality, high demand products such as asphalt components,” said Nix.
“Getting the Georgia Dedicating Tax and Fee Revenue Amendment passed this November will be a win-win-win for the voters and taxpayers in Georgia. First, it provides transparency by assuring Georgians that fees they pay for a specific purpose, such as the new tire fee which is supposed to go for hazardous waste cleanup, will actually go for that purpose rather than going into the state’s general fund. Second, by using these funds as intended, we can address some serious environmental concerns such as cleaning up massive illegal tire dumping sites and cracking down on those who are doing the dumping. Third, cleaning up the existing dump sites will help incentivize the tire recycling industry in Georgia which in turn will provide the necessary products for reuse of the scrap tires such as rubberized asphalt used in paving our roads and streets.”
