By Kessel Stelling
Columnist
Traffic down Interstate 75 is bad and getting worse. And while counties across Georgia are doing their best to ease traffic within their county limits, their hands are tied when it comes to big projects that connect the region.
That's why today is a crucial day in the Georgia General Assembly.
The House is set to vote on a measure that could - for the first time in decades - help connect Cobb County to other parts of the region through interstates, transit and other projects that cross county lines and require multi-county cooperation. The measure has already passed the Senate.
There's no doubt the needs are real.
Georgia is the fastest-growing state in the nation, but spends less per capita on transportation than 46 other states.
As a result, Cobb County and other metro Atlanta counties continue to see companies take their jobs to other states because we haven't grappled with Georgia's traffic. And as things stand now, only 3 percent of the Georgia Department of Transportation's budget is designated for new construction across the state. And conservative estimates show the Federal Highway Trust Fund will be bankrupt by next year.
Sen. Jeff Mullis (R-Chickamauga) and Rep. Vance Smith (R-Pine Mountain) have collaborated on a compromise funding plan to provide additional resources for Georgia's cash-strapped Department of Transportation and relieve congested highways.
This plan proposes a constitutional amendment to Georgia's voters that would allow Georgia's 12 regional development centers to levy a 1 percent sales tax to pay for the projects each region needs.
The beauty of Senate Resolution 845 is that it leaves every step of the decision-making up to voters.
They decide whether to vote on funding for local projects. They choose the projects. They keep the money at home. They provide the oversight. And there's a clear end date.
For residents of Cobb County, the choice is simple: Do we want to increase our quality of life, spend less time in the car and more time with our families, promote cleaner air and keep attracting quality jobs and companies?
If your answer is "yes," log on to GetGeorgiaMoving.com, click "Contact Your Lawmakers," and send an email to your state elected officials asking them to support Senate Resolution 845.
Kessel D. Stelling is president and CEO of the Bank of North Georgia, 2008 chair of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and Co-Chair of Get Georgia Moving
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Posted Comments
No new taxes... period
I love it when people try to tell me what I should do. Unfortunately, I'm still waiting for the why? Oh sure, there's some reasons proferred, but they hyperbole more befitting a stump speech by a political candidate. As CEO/President of BONG (now that's funny), I'm sure Mr. Stelling would ask for the support for conclusory statements, such as a "cash strapped DOT." Where is the support for such? The 3 percent mentioned is but an allocation of a portion of a budget, not an indication that cash is lacking. What happened to all of the money that was appropriated by the Legislature to build HOV lanes up I-75? That's right, still sitting around paying for studies....because God knows we haven't yet studied the matter to death. And then there's the issue of what to spend such money on....because to my knowledge there's been no plan proffered that everyone or even most everyone agrees on. On April 1st, there is yet another public meeting to view a plan that will be modified based upon the public comments received. Sorry, but money is not the answer until a firm plan of action is ready to be executed. So, I vote NO NEW TAXES and oppose Kessel's urgings. BTW, I just recently heard Mayor Franklin say that because Atlanta residents have conserved so well ans used so much less water, the revenues from water are down and rates will need to be raised to offset this. I wonder if the same will happen where gas is concerned. Success in conserving will translate to even higher prices to offset the losses resulting from conservation efforts. SICK and TWISTED reasoning? Absolutely, but what do we expect from our caring politicians and profit motivated business leaders?
Unfortunately, we have a love affair with our cars. At this point in time, the only answer is mass transit. More roads equate to more building along those roads and eventually congestion. Its a vicious never ending cycle. Im afraid the tax money equates to more roads and that is why Im against it.
If both the proposed new 1% SPLOST III sales tax increase for Cobb schools and the additional 1% sales tax to fund road improvements go through, residents will pay an additional sales tax of 2%. I don't know how efficient the Georgia DOT is but there may well be be room for improvement before levying a new tax for highway projects.