The funding war is starting to heat up between Fulton County and MARTA.

The Fulton County Board of Commissioners approved two resolutions last week addressing what it has called the "inequitable funding" of the MARTA system by Fulton and DeKalb counties and the city of Atlanta.

The first resolution, cosponsored by Chairman Mike Kenn and Commissioner Nancy Boxill, expressed opposition to extending the terms of MARTA's contract from 2040 to 2050, until the Georgia General Assembly creates a "fair and equitable funding mechanism" for the transportation system.

In the past few months, Kenn has been adamant in his position that the costs for running the transportation system should be spread out to more counties in the region.

The board agreed that it supports MARTA and the region's clean air initiatives, but believes taxpayers in Fulton and DeKalb counties and the city of Atlanta are unfairly burdened with the costs of the system that benefits the entire metro area.

"This has nothing to do with my support of MARTA," said Kenn. "it has to do with the inequitable funding of the system."

The tax is expected to generate $196 million in 2000.

"MARTA has clearly become a regional transportation system," Kenn said. "But the costs of maintaining and improving MARTA fall disproportionately on the citizens and taxpayers of Fulton and DeKalb counties."

The second resolution supports state legislation to restructure the MARTA Board of Directors to allow only those jurisdictions that "substantially and equitably contribute" to the costs of the system to hold seats. It also supports legislation to create a funding mechanism for MARTA that ensures the state and all jurisdictions in the metro Atlanta area share in the costs.

MARTA spokesman Dee Baker said the transportation system has no problem with being a regional system, but that decision is for the General Assembly.

"As an elected official, we respect Kenn's comment, but the sales tax pays a big part of our budget," she said.

Last year's MARTA operating budget was $331 million. The sales tax contributed $149 million.

Both resolutions will be forwarded to Gov. Roy Barnes, Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor, House Speaker Tom Murphy, each member of the Fulton and DeKalb counties' legislative delegations, the DeKalb County Commission, Atlanta City Council, Georgia Regional Transportation Authority, Atlanta Regional Commission and the MARTA Board.