Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce

TSPLOST February 2012 Update

Background

The funding for local road improvement projects comes from a Local Assistance Road Program (LARP) now called Local Main Improvement Grants (LMIG). Money paid into that budget from the gas tax is less because cars are more efficient and people are driving less. Also, the D.O.T. needs to retire some long term debt.

Structure

• TSPLOST is a 1% sales tax that will fund all modes of transportation for over 10 years (2013-2023)
• 12 regional tax districts
• Georgia Mountains includes 13 counties: Banks, Dawson, Forsyth, Franklin, Hall, Habersham, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union and White counties.
• Our region will gain $1.26 billion for local projects. 75% will go to regional projects and 25% to the counties for discretionary local projects. The 25% is divided using a formula of population and road miles. This amount is more than what many counties could raise on their own.
• In Stephens County over 10 years of the tax, is projected to amount to $1,446,798.

Local Match for State Grant Funding

• Regions that win voter approval will receive a 90/10 match.

• Regions that place a referendum on the ballot but fail to win approval will get a 70/30 match.

Stephens County Projects

• The projects for each region were determined last October by Regional Round Tables (including our then Mayor Janice English and County Chairman JB Hudgins).
• Stephens County projects include: $5M added to Phase Two of the SR 17 expansion project from the Eastanollee Creek bridge to the Currahee Parkway. (As a reminder Phase One starts July 2012 and expands SR 17 from Franklin County to Scott Road through the Hasyestone Brady Industrial Park.) The second project is $25M to extend Currahee Parkway from SR 17 to the South Carolina 123 bridge.
• Funds for the GA 17 improvements will be matched by $19,000,000 from federal sources. Funds for the GA 365 improvements will be matched by $36,000,000 from federal sources.
• A Georgia Mountains citizen’s accountability committee will ensure projects are completed on time and on budget.

Key Points

• Hall County is more than 200% larger than Stephens County and its population is nearly 700% greater. Hall and Forsyth Chambers have organized to pass TSPLOST. Combined, due to their size, if 70% vote "yes" it will pass in our region.
• There are over 450 people per square mile in Hall vs. less than 150 per square mile in Stephens County. Hall County’s transportation needs are greater than Stephens yet each citizen will receive only 20% more funding for improvements than each Stephens County resident.
• The Georgia Chamber is spearheading the promotion and passage of TSPLOST. The vote is set for the July 2012 general primary. The statewide campaign is called Connect Georgia.
• The next Georgia Mountains Chamber TSPLOST meeting is February 24 at the Greater Hall Chamber. GAMT Chambers with Boards voting YES to promote passing TSPLOST is White & Lumpkin Counties.

Visit the Georgia Chamber of Commerce web site for more information. Also, http://connectgeorgia2102.com/georgia_mountains.php for the full list of projects.