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Chamber manages tightwire act in its support of SPLOST

By J. FRANK LYNCH
jflynch@thecitizennews.com

Officials with the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce weren’t discouraged by the small crowd that showed up last week for the first of three forums to explain details of November’s transportation SPLOST referendum.

“We knew we weren’t going to measure if it was successful or not by the size of the crowd,” said Chamber President Virginia Gibbs. “We were extremely pleased, however, with the questions that were asked. They covered all ends of the spectrum.”

About 30 local residents turned out for the Aug. 17 forum at Sams Auditorium in Fayetteville. Among the questions were whether a planned Fayetteville bypass will be limited access like a freeway (it won’t), or if bonds could be floated and repaid with SPLOST money to get construction started faster (they might).

In Peachtree City, a Sept. 14 forum is scheduled at the First Presbyterian Church. A third forum will be held at Sams on Oct. 20. Both start at 7 p.m.

The SPLOST referendum will appear on the Nov. 2 general election ballot.

Gibbs said the chamber is trying to focus on the details of the plan, and steer clear of controversy about how much funding will go to the cities or county.

“Our key thing is we feel like it’s important that people really understand what exactly is in the transportation plan and that there is clarity on what exactly people are voting on,” said Gibbs on Monday. “So our number one mission is to get back to the facts.”

Peachtree City Mayor Steve Brown has been critical of the way funds would be distributed if voters approve a one-cent increase in the local sales tax, which would raise an estimated $121 million over five years.

The bulk of the revenue, 70 percent, would serve as seed money to fund the county’s long-range Comprehensive Transportation Plan. Among the top priorities in the plan is to build a bypass around Fayetteville’s eastside.

The remaining 30 percent would be split among the county’s five municipalities. Brown has said Peachtree City deserves more than that.

At last week’s forum, Brown asked moderator Andy Carden to clarify a recent chamber resolution in support of the SPLOST.

“The city was obviously very disappointed the chamber didn’t consult with us before approving the resolution,” Brown said. “Is the resolution in favor of the county’s proposal for distributing the SPLOST funds, or just for using the SPLOST as a method of road funding in general?”

Carden, who is secretary of the chamber’s Board of Directors and cochairman of its Legislative Action Committee, told Brown “the resolution we passed was in favor of negotiation.”

How the county and cities divvy up the revenue is “outside of our scope and analysis,” said Carden.

On Monday, Gibbs tried to clarify the chamber’s point further:

“We believe in the transportation plan, and it is very important for us to make that plan happen as quickly as possible,” she said, citing the constantly rising costs of construction and land acquisition.

“Secondly, it is our belief that of the options available to fund the plan — property taxes, bonds or some kind of sales tax — that the sales tax is the one that we should pursue,” Gibbs continued, pointing to Fayette County’s huge retail draw from surrounding communities.

“We’ve always had great hope that the cities can come to an agreement,” Gibbs said. “But in absence of that, we still believe this is a critical thing that needs to pass.”

The last paragraph of the Aug. 3 resolution approved by the chamber board appears to acknowledge the political firestorm that’s erupted from the failed SPLOST negotiations.

“...The Board of Directors does recognize the sensitive nature of the discussions that have ensued in preparation and final details of the Transportation Plan,” the resolution reads. “However, the Board does believe that the best interest of all our citizens, cities, communities and member businesses is served by supporting the Transportation Plan....”

Brown and some members of the city council have expressed doubt that the county’s plan would benefit Peachtree City in the long-run, a position Gibbs and others with the chamber disagree with.

“We think the transportation plan is comprehensive in allowing folks to traverse our entire county, east to west and north to south,” said Gibbs. Right now, Ga. Highway 54 is the only major east-west corridor in the county.

“And it includes the visionary things that ultimately will keep Fayette ahead of the traffic curve,” she said.

Both Coweta and Clayton counties already have SPLOSTs in place for road building and are enjoying the results, she said.

“Let’s not lose sight of what we’re trying to do here,” said Gibbs. “Let’s have a vision for the future. We hope voters will see through the politics and not get mired so much in the minutia.”