Sunday, April 5, 2009
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Gwinnett Daily Post
ATLANTA - Georgia lawmakers struck a deal over a transportation overhaul that would give state politicians vast control over infrastructure dollars. But plans for a new one-cent sales tax to fund hundreds of road projects died.
House leaders back a statewide sales tax, while the Senate supports a tax that could be imposed regionally. Failure to reach a compromise means problems for MARTA. The transportation funding bill had been linked to a measure that would allow the Atlanta transit agency to dip into its reserves to meet a budget shortfall. MARTA officials have warned they may have to cut services to six days a week without the change. MARTA supporters have warned that could be disastrous for workers who depend on the rail line and for tourism in the city. Separately, a transportation makeover, which passed the Senate 33-22, comes after heavy lobbying from Republican leaders who argued that granting the governor and lawmakers new powers over transportation funding would help transform a dysfunctional bureaucracy into one that is more accountable to voters. But it didn't go as far as Gov. Sonny Perdue's original proposal, which would have replaced the 13-person state transportation board elected by legislators with a new agency appointed by Georgia's most powerful politicians.More like this story
- Lawmakers still face numerous transportation funding choices<br/> New report suggests regional, statewide options ( January 31, 2008 )
- Road money debate choice of regional, statewide solutions ( February 3, 2008 )
- Transportation funding panel facing tough choices ( September 23, 2007 )
- Governor asks for funding<br/> Perdue's budget pushes for water projects ( January 17, 2008 )
- Transportation funding deal in works ( March 7, 2008 )
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