Madison County citizens will have a decision to make next year on the future condition of county roads: Should they vote “Yes” or “No” on a one-cent regional road tax?
Of course, Madison County leaders point to the projected $1.4 million for the county in annual sales tax revenue as the primary reason to vote “Yes.” If the one-cent tax is approved, one-fourth of the funds raised in the region will be split among the 12 counties to use at their own discretion.
Madison County doesn’t generate much in sales tax revenue compared to some of its neighbors, but there are a lot of road miles in the county, which helps the county in road-funding projections. And based on early estimates, the county stands to gain $1.4 million in sales tax revenue annually, according to BOC chairman Anthony Dove.
Dove has repeatedly said that the regional tax funding would help the county address many of its paving needs.
Right now, Madison County generates roughly $650,000 for roads annually off its six-year SPLOST. So, approval of a new T-SPLOST next year could approximately triple the county’s road funding per year.
“Over 10 years, Madison County could be about out of the dirt,” said Dove at recent BOC meeting as he addressed the potential impact of the road tax. Madison County has 113 miles of dirt roads.
The referendum for the tax is expected to go to the voters Aug. 21, 2012.
But only the major road projects in the region will be listed on that referendum. While 25-percent of the regional funds will be divided between counties for discretionary use, 75-percent of the money will be tagged toward “projects of regional interest.”
All 12 counties in the region recently submitted their “wish list” for potential regional road projects. The list was enormous, with 164 proposed projects at a total cost of over $2 billion. Of course, many of those projects will be cut from consideration before the final list is put before voters in 2012. The regional transportation roundtable, which consists of representatives from each county in the region, will now meet to cut down that wish list.
Madison County proposed four projects at a total of $53 million. Only two counties — Jasper and Oglethorpe — asked for less in “projects of regional interest” funding. Madison County is seeking turn lanes at the intersection of Hwy. 98 and Hwy. 29 in Danielsville, intersection improvements at Hwy. 72 and First Street, and a school deceleration lane on Hwy. 98 at Comer Elementary School. Combined, these three projects are estimated at $1.75 million. The bulk of Madison County’s requested regional funding — $51.3 million — is for the widening of Hwy. 72, a project that is already in the works.
Jim Dove, chairman of the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission, told The Commerce News last week that he expects the regional roundtable executive committee to travel around the region to look at some of the projects. They expect to have a “pretty much final list” by August, which they’ll carry to the full roundtable, Dove said. Public hearings will also be scheduled.
“It should be complete and voted on by the roundtable in October,” Dove said.
Here is a breakdown of the number of requested projects and the estimated cost for each county: Barrow, 25 projects, $122.5 million; Clarke, 38, $222.9 million; Elbert, 2, $385.9 million; Greene, 8, $69.3 million; Jackson, 20, $181.5 million; Jasper, 5, $20 million; Morgan, 8, $207 million; Newton, 18, 229.8 million; Oconee, 26, $366 million; Oglethorpe, 2, $51.7 million; Walton, 7, $129.9 million.
