A Madison County road roundtable

State legislators recently approved House Bill 277, which created 12 special tax districts in Georgia, which can each levy a one-cent sales tax for road improvements.

If the tax is ultimately approved by voters in a 2012 referendum, Madison County, and other counties in its region, will keep 25 percent of sales taxes for roads collected in their county. The other 75 percent will go to the region, with a “roundtable” of representatives from each county in that region deciding how that money is spent.

Madison County is in a region with an estimated population of 440,000 that includes Elbert, Oglethorpe, Barrow, Jackson, Clarke, Oconee, Walton, Greene, Newton and Jasper counties.

State legislators have made it very clear that they expect regions to approve the tax. According to the bill’s language, regions that approve a one-cent tax will get greater help from the state on road funding matters, but those who fail to pass the tax will be penalized, with counties having to foot more road costs themselves.

BOC chairman Anthony Dove said he wished the legislation had been written differently, with 75 percent of the funds remaining local and 25 percent going to the region. However, he noted that road funding is needed and counties that don’t take advantage of the regional tax could face real road funding troubles.

“It’s going to benefit a lot of counties, just because the state is not going to fund things like it used to,” said Dove. “For any type of road funding to get done, you’re almost going to have to have this.”

And regional leaders can’t get carried away fighting over funds. Otherwise, road funding from the state will be severely diminished.

According to the bill, any regional transportation board that fails to come to a consensus on how road funds should be divided in their district will be deemed to be in a “special district gridlock.” No referendum will be put before voters for at least two years. And as a consequence, every local government in that region must provide a 50-percent match to receive any state aid from the Georgia Department of Transportation.

Likewise, voters who shoot down a regional road tax will also see state road funds slashed in their communities. According to the legislation, any government in a region that has voted against the tax must provide a 30-percent match to receive any state aid for roads. Meanwhile, governments in districts that have approved the tax only have to provide a 10-percent match for state aid from the DOT.

Monday’s meeting included leaders from all six towns in the county, the school system, the industrial authority and the county government.

The gathering served as an overview of the tasks ahead. Dove read a lengthy summary of HB 277. The group did not address specifics Monday regarding which roads should be included in a roadwork proposal to the regional board. They also did not elect a representative to serve on that board. Each county will be represented by the commission chairman and one mayor. Which mayor will serve on the board and which roads will be included in Madison County’s proposal will be determined at a future meeting. The group agreed to meet again Aug. 9 at 5 p.m.

Dove said he felt it’s important that all leaders in the county work together to determine road needs. He said it’s also important that the county get an early jump on preparing for the regional road discussions.

Industrial authority chairman Bruce Azevedo, who represents Madison County on the regional water board, said he felt the regional approach to road funding will be a good thing, but he noted that Madison County officials must be very vigilant in looking out for Madison County’s interests. He noted faulty statistical data that had been disseminated about Madison County at a meeting he was at, adding that he had to provide the correct figures. He noted misguided decisions can be made at the regional level when local representatives aren’t on hand to correct mistakes and represent their county’s needs.

“This regional thing is really pretty good; you’ve got the access to more money,” said Azevedo. “But you just can’t let it run itself.”

School superintendent Mitch McGhee thanked Dove for calling the meeting. He said the gathering of leaders from the county government, the cities, the schools and the industrial authority is a positive and needed thing for the community.