BRADENTON, Fla. - The Georgia General Assembly plans to debate a bill that would provide more than $1 billion in new transportation funding.
State Rep. Jay Roberts, R-Ocilla, introduced the Transportation Funding Act of 2015 on Jan. 29, saying that it will address Georgia's critical transportation infrastructure needs without a tax increase.
"There has been a need for legislation to address our state's transportation needs for several years now, and we can no longer ignore it," said Roberts, who chairs the House Transportation Committee.
House Bill 170 is comprehensive legislation encompassing additional bond financing and changes in the way the state derives revenues for road and bridge needs.
The measures proposed in the bill were recommended by a joint study committee on transportation funding that released its
If passed, HB 170 would convert the sales tax on motor fuel to an equivalent excise tax linked to federal corporate average fuel economy standards and the consumer price index. The excise tax would be adjusted annually to ensure that revenues keep pace with the increasing fuel efficiency of vehicles, state officials said in information explaining the measure, providing a reliable, predictable funding source for transportation.
The bill also proposes a $3.6 billion multi-year state general fund bond financing program to support Georgia Department of Transportation projects.
Local governments would be allowed to charge an additional excise tax of up to 6 cents per gallon for local transportation projects. Additional excise taxes on motor fuel beyond 6 cents would require a local referendum.
Since alternatively fueled vehicles do not pay gas taxes to share in transportation funding, HB 170 proposes to levy an annual user fee of $200 for non-commercial vehicles and $300 for commercial vehicles. These revenues, which can also be leveraged with bonds, would go toward transit system funding.
The bill also proposes to recapitalize the Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank to offer a revolving, self-sustaining, loan and grant fund to match contributions from local governments, districts, and authorities for local construction projects.
"I expect the bill to be thoroughly vetted as it goes through the legislative process," said House Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge. "We welcome constructive discussion and debate. But the time to begin the process is now."
