County Will Use Portion of TSPLOST Funds to Finish SPLOST Projects

Of the $8.5 billion in revenue the proposed 1-percent transportation sales tax (TSPLOST) is expected to generate over a 10-year period, $1.27 billion will be divvied up among local governments. Gwinnett County is expected to receive a cut of $133.6 million; the City of Dacula stands to gain $1.5 million.

Earlier this month, the to take any TSPLOST revenue, leverage it with Dacula’s regular special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) funding and accelerate the city's . 

Gwinnett County has made similar plans. According to the county website, approximately $23 million of the county's share of TSPLOST proceeds will be used to complete projects that were expected to have been funded through the 2009 SPLOST. When revenue for the 2009 SPLOST failed to meet projections, several projects were cut or scaled back due to the lower than anticipated revenue.

An additional $31.2 million will be used to complete projects that were supposed to have been funded under other previous SPLOST programs.

The remaining funds, if TSPLOST passes, will be allocated between road resurfacing ($47 million) and sidewalk, intersection improvements, school safety zones, bridge improvements and other projects.

Last week, saying, "I am advocating for it because this is not a legislatively imposed tax. It is a tax increase that the people themselves will decide about. And for those who say otherwise, it seems to me that they would take away the right of the people to express their opinions of this importance.”

Though voters can decide whether or not to impose the tax, local governments will face consequences if TSPLOST does not pass. H.B. 277, the Transportation Investment Act, contains penalties for regions that fail to adopt the TSPLOST. If a region adopts the TSPLOST, local governments will only be required to pay 10 percent in matching funds for projects receiving funding from the Georgia Department of Transportation. If a region fails to pass the referendum, local governments in that region will be required to post 30 percent in matching funds.

The City of Dacula will hold a to provide residents with additional information regarding local TSPLOST projects of interest. More information is also available on the Regional Transportation Referendum website.

Does the prospect of local governments having to pay more in matching funds have any impact on your decision whether or not to vote in favor of TSPLOST? Let us know in the comments.

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