First in Safety and Service Our highest priority is to strive to be a high performance organization that is effective, efficient and accountable for providing safety and service to our citizens.
The Problem. More people are buying more fuel efficient vehicles. More population means more traffic and wear and tear on infrastructure More fuel efficiency vehicles means less fuel tax dollars! Georgia s transportation funding cannot keep up with demand and need.
The Solution. The State of Georgia has determined that traditional funding sources for transportation are insufficient; a new broader investment strategy was needed. General Assembly did not want to raise general income taxes. General Assembly did not want to pass a statewide sales tax. Result was the Transportation Investment Act (TIA).
Overview of TIA Created 12 special tax district regions based on existing Regional Commission boundaries (map on next page). Allows each region to levy a 1% sales tax for 10 years where funds collected in each region must be spent in that region. Projects were selected by elected leaders of local governments who formed Regional Roundtables consisting of two Chief Elected Officials from each county: the county commission chair and one mayor (selected by all of the county s mayors). The Coastal Regional Roundtable approved a list of 120 projects by the specified October 15, 2011, deadline.
Statewide Regional Map Bulloch Coastal Region
Overview of TIA (continued) Voters in each region will vote on the proposed sales tax increase in a July 31, 2012, referendum. 75% of the Region s proceeds would be used to fund the projects on the final project list approved by the Regional Roundtable. 25% of the Region s proceeds would be divided among the region s local governments to be spent on discretionary transportation projects using a formula of population and road mileage. Individual counties may not opt out if the tax passes throughout the region.
Overview of TIA (continued) Most project delivery would be the responsibility of Georgia DOT, working with local governments. A citizens review panel is created in each region to monitor results over the 10-year period. Exemptions from the tax include: Fuels for motor vehicle, public mass transit, locomotive, jet and off-road heavy-duty, farm, or agricultural equipment. The sale or use of energy used in manufacturing or processing tangible goods. Building and construction materials. The first $5,000 of any transaction involving the sale or lease of a motor vehicle.
Types of Eligible Projects Roadway Capital (New Roads and Bridges; Expansions) Roadway & Bridge Maintenance (Asset Management) Safety and Traffic Operations (Intersections, Signal, Signs) Freight & Logistics (Truck/Rail) Aviation (Airports) Bicycle and Pedestrian (Sidewalks and Bike Trails) Transit Capital (Buses, Trains, Ferries) Transit Operations & Maintenance (CAT, Liberty Transit, Coastal Regional Coaches, et al.)
Projected Total Revenue Collections by Region over 10 year period Regional Commission Amount NW Georgia (Rome-Dalton) Georgia Mountains (Gainesville) ARC (Atlanta) Three Rivers (Atlanta-South/Southwest) NE Georgia (Athens) Middle Georgia (Macon) Central Savannah River (Augusta) River Valley (Columbus) Heart of Georgia (Dublin-Vidalia) SW Georgia (Albany) Southern Georgia (Valdosta) Coastal (Savannah) ($Millions) 1,487 1,260 8,468 947 988 876 841 594 399 530 671 1,608
The Roundtable Process The Coastal Roundtable decided to distribute the regional (75%) funds by county population. The process was very non-contentious; little to no arguing about donor and receiver counties. The 75% funds were focused on legitimate regional scale projects. Bulloch County didn t submit as many 75% projects as others, but, they are significant to the regional network. Since Bulloch s 75% projects were on major state/federal routes, there will be tremendous matching grant leverage.
Why is TIA Good for Bulloch County? Safer and better maintained infrastructure. Better access and connections throughout the County. TIA could create over 43,000 jobs in the region; over 6,000 jobs in our County. Bulloch County gets the second highest investment amount in the region behind Chatham County and more local discretionary (25%) funds than Bibb, Muscogee and Richmond County. For every one dollar in sales taxes paid in Bulloch County, Bulloch County will get $2.82 back. Many Bulloch County projects will be started within the first 3 years.
75% Approved Regional Projects in Bulloch County Project Project Total and TIA Funding Year 1-3 Year 4-7 Year 6-10 Bike Pedestrian Improvements along US 301 South between Tillman and the Bypass $1,050,000 ($550,000 funded by TIA with fed. match) X Widen SR 67 between Bypass and I-16 $42.9 ($8,000,000 funded by TIA w/fed. match) X Statesboro North Bypass $32.2 (fully funded by TIA) X Widen US 301 North from Bypass to 6 miles south of Sylvania $77.2 (fully funded by TIA) X X
Statesboro Bike-Ped Project
State Route 67 Widening
Statesboro North Bypass
US 301 North Widening
Sub-Regional Project Map and Bulloch County Projects (US 80 East Widening Rejected)
By the numbers in mil. $ Jurisdiction 75% State Match Total 75% + Match Total 25% Total Value Region 1.196B 375.3 1.572B 402.1 1.983B Bryan 53.9 26.0 79.9 25.3 105.3 Bulloch 128.9 81.3 210.2 71.9 282.2 Camden 20.7 33.6 54.3 30.9 85.2 Chatham 512.9 91.4 604.4 97.7 702.1 Effingham 121,9 10.9 132.6 40.2 172.8 Glynn 133.2 72.8 206.0 38.2 244.2 Liberty 116.3 59.4 175.7 26.1 201.8 Long 54.2 0 54.2 21.3 75.5 McIntosh 23.7 0 23.7 14.9 38.6 Screven 30.7 0 30.7 35.3 66.1
By the numbers, graphically 10-Year TIA Investment Levels for Each County 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 Chatham Bulloch Glynn Liberty Effingham Bryan Camden Long Screven McIntosh Total Value 702.1 282.2 244.2 201.8 172.8 105.3 85.2 75.5 66.1 38.6 Total 25% 97.7 71.9 38.2 26.1 40.2 25.3 30.9 21.3 35.3 14.9 Total 75% + Match 604.4 210.2 206 175.7 132.6 79.9 54.3 54.2 30.7 23.7 State Match 91.4 81.3 72.8 59.4 10.9 26 33.6 0 0 0 75% 512.9 128.9 133.2 116.3 0 53.9 20.7 54.2 30.7 23.7
Projected 25% Local Discretionary Funds: Year 1-2013 (determined by GDOT formula) Jurisdiction Estimated 2013 Revenues Unincorporated $4,738,960 Brooklet $99,931 Portal $46,150 Register $11,270 Statesboro $700,834 TOTAL $5,597,245
The Strategic Challenge for applying Bulloch County s 25% discretionary funds. Categorical v. project-specific planning issues (difficult to identify projects beyond the first six years; will rely on County s Long Range Transportation Plan, where feasible). Few dirt roads with publicly dedicated right-of-way and, fewer dirt roads where people even want pavement. County has a great bike/pedestrian plan; but, sidewalks are lowmaintenance; bike paths are high-maintenance. County can do a lot of resurfacing, make improvements to it s airport, bridges, and intersections (project are already identified/prioritized). Providing an ongoing pool for economic development projects would take pressure off of local road SPLOST.
What will the County do with their 25% funds (categorical now.more specific upon passage)? Option 1 Tot. 1-3 4-6 7-10 Dirt Road Construction (20%) $14.4 $1.0 $3.0 $10.4 Resurfacing (50%) $35.4 $8.7 $7.9 $18.8 Bridges (3%) $2.1 $1.4 $0.7 $0.7 Safety and Intersections (12%) $8.6 $1.6 $4.3 $2.7 Airport (2%) $1.4 $0.0 $0.7 $0.7 Pedestrian/Bike-Ped Mix (2%) $1.4 $0.5 $0.9 $0.0 Economic Development Projects (14%) $10.0 $2.0 $3.5 $8.5 Debt Service (Resurfacing) $0.5 $0.3 $0.2 $0.0 Totals (Preliminary Estimates) $71.9 $15.5 $21.4 $35.0
What will the County do with their 25% funds (categorical now.more specific upon passage)? Option 2 Tot. 1-3 4-6 7-10 Dirt Road Maintenance (40%) (1) $28.8 $1.0 $3.0 $10.4 Dirt Road Construction (0%) (2) $0.0 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0 Resurfacing (40%) $28.3 $8.7 $7.9 $18.7 Safety and Intersections (5%) $3.6 $1.6 $4.3 $2.7 Economic Development Projects (15%) $10.8 $2.0 $3.5 $8.5 Debt Service (Resurfacing) (3) $0.5 $0.3 $0.2 $0.0 Totals (Preliminary Estimates) $71.9 $15.5 $21.4 $35.0 (1): Looking into legality of transferring Road Department O&M costs to T-SPLOST. (2): If (1) is accomplished, we could rely on Bulloch SPLOST 2013 for significant dirt road construction. (3): Could consider bonding for first 6 years to accelerate resurfacing projects up to 200 miles or virtually half of the county s paved local roads.
What happens if TIA doesn t pass? Regardless of pass/fail, state and federal funds will be fewer meaning that the burden will shift to individual local governments to pay for new infrastructure. In regions where it passes, annual state aid funds will only require a 10% local match by local governments. In regions were it fails, annual state aid funds will require a 30% local match. Reconsideration of the referendum cannot take place for 2 years after it fails. What is the impact upon regions throughout the state with different referenda outcomes? Haves and have-nots?
For more information on TIA. www.connectgeorgia2012.com Connect Georgia: Advocacy Group www.it3.ga.gov Georgia DOT Regional Project Lists www.crc.ga.gov Coastal Regional Commission www.gachamber.com Georgia Chamber of Commerce
About Voting in Bulloch County on July 31, 2012 Contact: Elections and Voter Registration Bulloch County Courthouse 2 North Main Street, Room 104 Statesboro, Georgia 30458 Phone: (912) 764-6502 Fax: (912) 764-8167 www.bullochcounty.net/government/dea prtments-a-to-e/boardofelections