Marta (Atlanta, Alpharetta, Between: sales, real estate, lease)

[tonygeorgia]

What is the real reason that Marta is the only transportation system in the state of Georgia that doesnt receive any help from the state?

I know someone is going to say that Marta is only in Fulton and Dekalb county but the STATE OF GEORGIA helps the rest of the public transportation systems in Ga....why not Marta?

[flyonpa]

My Guess is that MARTA (Fulton/Dekalb) got the 1cent marta sales tax thru the state Leg. So we gave you the penny. Now you want more??????

[AcidSnake]

This topic has been beaten to death. Oh well...

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by tonygeorgia

What is the real reason that Marta is the only transportation system in the state of Georgia that doesnt receive any help from the state?

I know someone is going to say that Marta is only in Fulton and Dekalb county but the STATE OF GEORGIA helps the rest of the public transportation systems in Ga....why not Marta?

The state of Georgia allocates about $300 million a year in sales tax revenue to MARTA. Between 40-65% of that comes from people who are not residents of Fulton or DeKalb counties.

MARTA also receives some additional direct funding from the state of Georgia -- around $6 million last year.

The state has also granted MARTA the power of eminent domain and MARTA owns lots of very pricey real estate around its stations. It can sell and develop that land, and it collects substantial rents as well. MARTA pulled in over $9 million in lease income last year.

The state also gave MARTA bonding authority, so it can go into the private capital markets and raise money that way, too.

Mayor Reed Calls for Unified Metro Transit Agency

[BringBackCobain]

Originally Posted by tonygeorgia

What is the real reason that Marta is the only transportation system in the state of Georgia that doesnt receive any help from the state?

I know someone is going to say that Marta is only in Fulton and Dekalb county but the STATE OF GEORGIA helps the rest of the public transportation systems in Ga....why not Marta?

Troll.

Georgia doesn't "help" any transit systems.

What you meant to say is that MARTA is the only major transit system in the U.S. that doesn't receive funding from the state it's located in.

Maybe instead of always looking for a handout from the state, Marta can get her fiscal house in order. Marta is always begging for money. It's annoying.

[cwkimbro]

Originally Posted by flyonpa

My Guess is that MARTA (Fulton/Dekalb) got the 1cent marta sales tax thru the state Leg. So we gave you the penny. Now you want more??????

Giving someone the legal ability to give themselves their own penny is not the same as the state giving them a penny.

[waronxmas]

Originally Posted by arjay57

The state of Georgia allocates about $300 million a year in sales tax revenue to MARTA. Between 40-65% of that comes from people who are not residents of Fulton or DeKalb counties.

Just a little fact check, that's not funding allocated to MARTA from the State. That's people buying stuff in Fulton and Dekalb counties. That's like saying the City of Atlanta pays for the Alpharetta Police Department because I might stop at a gas station and buy a pack of gum there.

The MARTA sales tax is not a State source of funding. It is the residents of Fulton and Dekalb deciding one of the most solemn aspects of being an American citzen: the ability to set the terms of how they are tax and for what purpose it will be used.

[tonygeorgia]

Again, why does the state of GA fund every other transportation system in Ga except for Marta???

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by tonygeorgia

Again, why does the state of GA fund every other transportation system in Ga except for Marta???

Which other transportation systems does the state fund?

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by waronxmas

Just a little fact check, that's not funding allocated to MARTA from the State. That's people buying stuff in Fulton and Dekalb counties. That's like saying the City of Atlanta pays for the Alpharetta Police Department because I might stop at a gas station and buy a pack of gum there.

The MARTA sales tax is not a State source of funding. It is the residents of Fulton and Dekalb deciding one of the most solemn aspects of being an American citzen: the ability to set the terms of how they are tax and for what purpose it will be used.

Well, not exactly, waroxmas. Sales taxes can only be authorized by the state. And if such a tax is going to be allowed in order to raise money for a specific purpose, it's up to the state to make that decision. And of course everyone who buys things in Fulton or DeKalb (Georgians and non-Georgians alike) is subject to this state sales tax. A large portion of it is paid by folks who don't live in Fulton or DeKalb.

And, yes, your Alpharetta example would be exactly correct if the state of Georgia had authorized a special tax on items purchased in Alpharetta with the proceeds being designated exclusively for the Alpharetta police. You could complain that you're not interested in funding the APD but it wouldn't help you. It would be a matter of state legislation.

Same thing with MARTA. The money raised by the one cent sales tax -- paid by anybody who buys things in Fulton or DeKalb, whether you live there or not -- goes only to MARTA. The local jurisdictions don't have authority to use the money for anything else.