Chamber group gives support to T-SPLOST

As it has done with previous sales tax referendums, the Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors voted without dissent last Friday to endorse passage of the 10-year T-SPLOST on July 31.

President Shane Short argued the case before the directors, reminding them that passage of the 10-year transportation sales tax will bring almost $1 billion into the 12-county region. Three-quarters of that money will go to fund projects approved by a district roundtable chaired by Hunter Bicknell, and the rest will be apportioned among the cities and counties in the region.

“For many of the communities in our region, that 25 percent is much more than they get now,” Short reported.

Bicknell, who chairs the Jackson County Board of Commissioners, told the group that the county has identified “17-18 projects that did not make the major (region) list” for funding with its share of the 25 percent. Jackson County would receive about $150,000 a year from that portion of the revenue, and its municipalities would also receive funds.

For the full story, see the April 25 issue of The Jackson Herald.

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#1 Common Sense on 04/25/12 at 12:08 PM [Reply]

While I drive almost daily, and do enjoy the roads in and around our area, I must emphatically state opposition to the proposed Tsplost. The projects to be financed by the initiative may all be worthy, but many of our government officials and the chamber are neglecting to mention that in Georgia, 36 cents per gallon are already allocated for road improvements and maintenance. The "road tax" is one of the better ideas in taxation, in that those who use gas are also the ones using the roads. Half of those taxes go to the federal government, but those funds are supposed to return in the form of grants to states for roadwork. The average American household will buy over 1,000 gallons a year, thus the average family will add more than $360 to state and federal tax collections, and all of those are to be spent on roads.

Yes, those who drive less fuel efficient vehicles may pay more, but larger vehicles (i.e. trucks) tend to put more stress on roads, bridges, and so forth, so the current transportation tax should be enough for maintaing current roads and for new projects as well.

Before voters say "Yes" to the transportation sales tax, there should be a better accounting of the hundreds of dollars each household already spends on the roads via taxes on fuel.

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Chamber group gives support to T-SPLOST

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Chamber group gives support to T-SPLOST

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