Helping to promote a yes vote on that tax July 31st was Doug Callaway with the Georgia Transportation Alliance, created by the state chamber to promote the regional sales tax. Callaway said the regional tax and the improvements it promises was a factor in locating Caterpillar in Athens.
"Their CEO, when they announced they were moving to the Athens Clarke County area three weeks ago, one of the factors they cited for taking jobs out of Japan and moving them back to Georgia was this transportation vote," Callaway said.
Callaway added that even though Georgians have yet to vote on the Transportation Investment Act referendum, Caterpillar executives saw that surrounding states don't have a tool like the Act.
"We've got an opportunity to do something about it, the other folks don't," Callaway added.
The Transportation Investment Act or (TIA) provides for a one percent sales tax to fund select transportation projects in 12 regions in Georgia. If all regions approve economists project $18.67-billion in revenue during the 10 year life of the tax.
In the Georgia Mountains Region in Northeast Georgia the tax would generate $1.2-billion for the 13 county area. Hall County would get around $600-million in TIA funds that would stay in the region and the county.
Those projects were selected by roundtables made up of local officials.
GDOT Director of Planning Todd Long said project oversight would come from an independent citizens review panel.
"Each region will have a five member citizen review panel and that panel will have the sole task of making sure that projects follow what was voted on," Long said.
Long said they would report annually to the General Assembly and would meet three or four times a year. The Speaker of the House and the Lt. Governor would appoint them.
Callaway said the regional tax and the improvements it promises was a factor in locating Caterpillar in Athens
GDOT Director of Planning Todd Long said project oversight would come from an independent citizens review panel
http://accesswdun.com/article/2012/3/246533