Fayette | News

ARC wants 1 percent sales tax for roads

Wed, 08/22/2007 - 3:48pm
By: John Munford

Tax would be collected in Fayette, 9 other metro Atlanta counties; legislature approval needed

The board of the Atlanta Regional Commission is proposing Georgia implement a one percent sales tax to address the current $3.1 billion shortfall in available funds for short-term transportation projects.

Though the ARC projects the sales tax would collect that amount in five to seven years, ARC wants the tax to linger for 30 years so the projects could be financed.

The proposal calls for a minimum of 3 percent of the revenue generated by the tax to go towards projects in each of the 10 counties, according to information released by the ARC.

To become reality, the sales tax must be approved by the Georgia legislature.

“Federal funds for transportation projects are diminishing at the same time metro Atlanta continues to boom," said ARC Chairman Sam Olens. "Traffic congestion is one of the biggest problems we face and we desperately need a new source of funds to fight that congestion through a variety of new ways. We’re not going to stop growing, and this new funding strategy will ensure that the region stays on the move.”

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Aren't we taxed enough?
Woody's picture
Submitted by Woody on Thu, 08/23/2007 - 3:40pm.

Great. Another unelected agency pushing for higher taxes. Alabama might as well ask Georgia to tax our folks for fixing their highways coming in from Georgia. (I-20 needs it.)

Why doesn't the ARC ask the State to just use the excess funds from GA-400 tolls that they aren't keeping, anyway, to maintain that road as required?

I don't understand why we have to be part of the ARC, even though I'm sure it made sense at the time. I don't even like the emissions tests--a government mandate passed on to us individually.

Will they let us out of this if we promise not to drive on their roads?


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Act now!
Submitted by Dalmation195 on Thu, 08/23/2007 - 8:04am.

Now is the time for each of us to start calling and voicing our opposition.

Get on the hone or write letters to Dan Lakly, John Yates and Ronnie Chance NOW!

dlakly@mindspring.com

john.yates@house.ga.gov

ronnie.chance@senate.ga.gov

We need to nip this in the bud immediately.

All of you know that all of the elected reps from rural Georgia are going to overwhelmingly support this, because they do not have to participate. They need to realize that they are the next ones to be targeted.

I thought the SPLOST was for roads in Fayette County!

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I knew it, I knew it, I knew it
mapleleaf's picture
Submitted by mapleleaf on Thu, 08/23/2007 - 6:59am.

We’ve got people believing that the sales tax is the solution to everything. Every time the people vote for a SPLOST or other form of sales tax, they encourage the politicians. Now these folks say, “We need a new source of funds,” but the source is always us, and we’re not a new source of funds. We’re same old, same old, same old. Hey, our latest Fayette SPLOST was for roads. How many times can you go to the well for the same thing?

This all ties in with the delusive Fairytale Tax and the folks who promote it. We’re not headed in the right direction and it does not take that much intelligence to see that.


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I'm generally against taxes..
Submitted by McDonoughDawg on Wed, 08/22/2007 - 4:31pm.

But in this case, I would like them to consider using the GAS Tax instead of the sales tax. Unless someone could convince me otherwise, the gas tax seems to be the one to consider raising. Not that I'm for raising taxes at all, but why not let the folks that actually use/need the roads pay for them.

And, 30 years is WAY too long of an open window for this tax.

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re: against taxes
LifeLongResident's picture
Submitted by LifeLongResident on Wed, 08/22/2007 - 5:08pm.

If you increase "GAS Tax" does that include diesel fuel? Everything you buy gets to the store on a truck so the price of everything will go up. I am in sales and am already struggling because of the increased gas prices. I don;t want more money coming out of my pocket.

We don't need a new tax. We need the government to use our existing tax money more appropriately. Instead of wasting money on pet projects intended to gain votes from the "gimme" crowd, it should be spent more responsibly. I can't go to my boss and demand a raise because I need to pave my driveway, but the government can come after us to cover their irresponsibility.

NO tax, once instituted by the government, ever goes away. The federal income tax was supposed to be temporary to fund World War I. Did they repeal the income tax to make it easier on people during the depression? The toll on Ga 400 was supposed to be temporary - just untill it was paid for.

If a person is willing to sacrifice a little freedom to gain a little security, they deserve neither - Ben Franklin


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Notice I wasn't for the tax per say..
Submitted by McDonoughDawg on Wed, 08/22/2007 - 7:15pm.

But I stand by statement about using the gas tax if they must. Gas in the 1920's was at 3.50 a gallon in 2007 dollars. Also being in sales, I feel your pain, but we are far from the high in all time prices, and I don't expect it to come down.

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