Backers of a regional transportation sales tax will face hard decisions this year, because the money will fall far short of funding projects already planned.
The sales tax, if passed by voters next year, is expected to generate about $800 million over a decade for 11 counties as populated as Bibb and Houston and as far-flung as counties such as Crawford, Pulaski and Putnam. A draft list of projects for Jones County alone lists more than $700 million in potential projects.
“It is kind of surprising just how much work is needed out there, in terms of maintenance and projects that are already on the books,” said Don Tussing, principal planner with the Macon-Bibb County Planning and Zoning Commission.
“This will address many of the major issues, but it will not address all of the issues in a short time frame.”
But officials are hoping the tax -- if voters pass it in July 2012 -- will supplement other money. Jim Thomas, executive director of the planning and zoning agency, said the area will continue to get federal money and state cash from a gasoline tax. The regional sales tax could be leveraged against the state and federal money, especially on huge projects such as the rebuilding of the Interstate 75/Interstate 16 interchange, Thomas said.
Laura Mathis, director of public administration for the Middle Georgia Regional Commission, told local officials Thursday that many projects won’t qualify for the regional sales tax, known as House Bill 277.
Projects approved by a regional roundtable of elected officials must have regional impact and fit other guidelines.
Only transit projects that are already running qualify for the sales-tax money, so the regional tax cannot subsidize the operations of a proposed commuter rail line from Macon to Atlanta.
Tussing cautioned against planning on construction money for complex projects with difficult environmental challenges, such as Macon Mayor Robert Reichert’s proposed connector from Ga. 247 across wetlands and the Ocmulgee River to Sgoda Road in Twiggs County.
Tussing said the sales-tax money could fund the environmental study and other plans. But without a good estimate of construction costs and a guarantee the project would be finished within the 10-year sales tax, the sales-tax money can’t be used, he said.
A list of potential projects needs to be sent to the state in early April, Mathis said.
Officials from across the region -- mayors, county commission chairmen and state legislators -- will have to winnow the list of actual projects by Oct. 15. Mathis said she expects the potential project list will reach billions of dollars.
Tussing said he expects fast-growing communities such as Bibb, Houston and Jones counties will have different needs than Pulaski County, which hopes to use much of its money to replace bridges.
The overall regional sales tax is expected to collect more than $1 billion over a 10-year span from Middle Georgia if voters approve it.
One-quarter of that money would be given directly to communities for local transportation projects. The remainder would fund the regional project list.
To contact writer Mike Stucka, call 744-4251.
