Dems propose transportation funds, slam Perdue

Citing a failure of state leadership to raise transportation funding, Georgia Democratic leaders on Thursday announced a proposal to allow regional referendums on a penny sales tax for transportation, and to dedicate part of the current gas tax for any transportation purpose, including operating a mass transit system.

Creating a long-term source of operating funds could clear the way to compete for federal grants to build new local transit projects, transportation officials said.

Almost all of the Georgia gas tax currently goes to transportation, but one cent per dollar goes to the state’s general fund.  The part that goes to transportation can only be spent on roads and bridges, not mass transit.

“We watched along with other Georgians over the last seven years as the administration, the governor’s office, has failed to provide the necessary leadership to improve our transportation system in this state,” said Sen. Robert Brown (D-Macon).  Rep. DuBose Porter (D-Dublin), a candidate for governor, and other leaders stood beside Brown at the press conference and later echoed the same themes.

“That’s partisan rhetoric,” replied Bert Brantley, a spokesman for Gov. Sonny Perdue.  “I think the governor’s record on this is pretty clear.” He cited Perdue’s early attempts to build more transportation projects faster through borrowing, and new proposals Perdue announced this year for $300 million in freight projects in addition to regional funding referendums to be held in 2012.

The Democrats said Thursday that 2012 was too long to wait, and they proposed referendums that could get money flowing earlier.

As to redirecting part of the gas tax, Brantley said that taking money from the state’s general fund would be hard at a time of severe budget cuts.  The Democrats said it currently amounts to $137 million per year and was originally spent small local road projects.

What effect the Democrats’ proposal will have is anyone’s guess.  Unlike the last couple of years, Republicans don’t need their votes to pass Perdue’s transportation proposal, if they can get enough votes from their own party.  Perdue’s current proposal would require only a simple majority.  Proposals from previous years, and the Democrats’ current proposal, were constitutional amendments requiring a two-thirds majority.

Sen. Doug Stoner (D-Smyrna) said the Atlanta region would be formed of ten counties, but a county could decide to opt out. Half of the revenues from each county would go towards mass transit, except that Fulton and DeKalb could choose to give transit less and roads and sidewalks more.  That’s consideration for paying the MARTA one-cent sales tax.

Outside of Atlanta, counties would have to choose on their own whether to form up a region.