Vote No on July 31 - Stop Taxing the Middle Class/Poor Unjustly (Atlanta: income, live in)

[atltechdude]

If it fails the 4 core metro ATL counties (and maybe Clayton) will need to get together on something.

The outer counties don't want to pay for anything.

[mattee01]

Originally Posted by atltechdude

If it fails the 4 core metro ATL counties (and maybe Clayton) will need to get together on something.

The outer counties don't want to pay for anything.

Its unwise for the outer counties to not want any transport improvements. Thee people in outlying areas always seem to want to ignore things like this until its too late...

But hey, they shouldn't have been included in the first place then. Let the burbs not get any projects and focus all the transit mostly in perimeter and just out of perimeter areas. That way wheen traffic gets unbareable in the suburbs eventually people will start to move to areas wheree its better and the city will get the better economic projects.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by atltechdude

If it fails the 4 core metro ATL counties (and maybe Clayton) will need to get together on something.

What sort of funding mechanism would they use?

Counties can't impose sales taxes on their own without a specific act of the state legislature. And I can't imagine that a property tax increase would have any chance whatsoever.

[bu2]

[quote=cwkimbro;25036570]There is a sign outside my suburban neighborhood telling people the tax is just supporting the Beltline and explains that 10% of the tax is sent there.

Then you have Atlanta... they are actually getting a disproportionately high share of the revenue and that is ok. They will get upgrades to most major arterial roads in the core (that don't already have them)... this along is big.

Then, there is also the Beltline. It is fully targeted at creating urban-residential growth and using other existing infrastructure.

I've looked at the projects. These "upgrades" to major arterial roads in Central Fulton and Dekalb are repaving, sidewalks and bike lanes. In other words, two things they should be doing anyway and one thing that should be done somewhere other than a major arterial road. In some cases they are trying to slow traffic (that's one of the positive criteria in how they evaluated projects). There were some true improvements, but those tended to get dropped (Briarcliff for one). The failure to address the inadequate arterial roads in the central part of the metro is the biggest failing IMO.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by Nanosolar

This is what people don't seem to understand.

It is NOT a tax.

TSPLOST is an INVESTMENT. The Atlanta metro area will see returns on this INVESTMENT in terms of increased economic activity, shorter commutes, better and more diverse tansit options, possibly the best publicity of any city in the US over the next decade in the beltline, improved density, improved productivity, reduced environmental impact, and those are just things I as a semi-literate average citizen can see.

Much is being tied up in operating costs-$100 million or so for bus routes in Clayton, $900 million or so for repairs to MARTA. Those aren't investments.

Much will simply be displaced economic activity. The higher sales tax will tend to reduce purchases and those $ will be spent on transportation. The problem is far too many of these things will not decrease commutes. There will be worse transit options (light rail requiring a whole new repair infrastructure instead of MARTA, sidewalks and bike lanes) although admittedly more diverse. And there will be very little development in the next decade. Atlanta is too overbuilt, especially in high density luxury apartments and condos. As for productivity, you have to believe this really will do something for traffic when half is repairs or economic development projects.

And the politicians are a factor. With all the scandals (DCSS, APS, Gwinnet schools, Gwinnet Co....) and the way these projects were selected it is easy to see that developers were first and traffic improvement was incidental. I was an almost sure yes vote before they started selecting the projects, but now I am a firm no. You can't waste $3 billion and ever expect to do anything serious about traffic.

[Lady's Man]

Originally Posted by bu2

Much is being tied up in operating costs-$100 million or so for bus routes in Clayton, $900 million or so for repairs to MARTA. Those aren't investments.

Much will simply be displaced economic activity. The higher sales tax will tend to reduce purchases and those $ will be spent on transportation. The problem is far too many of these things will not decrease commutes. There will be worse transit options (light rail requiring a whole new repair infrastructure instead of MARTA, sidewalks and bike lanes) although admittedly more diverse. And there will be very little development in the next decade. Atlanta is too overbuilt, especially in high density luxury apartments and condos. As for productivity, you have to believe this really will do something for traffic when half is repairs or economic development projects.

And the politicians are a factor. With all the scandals (DCSS, APS, Gwinnet schools, Gwinnet Co....) and the way these projects were selected it is easy to see that developers were first and traffic improvement was incidental. I was an almost sure yes vote before they started selecting the projects, but now I am a firm no. You can't waste $3 billion and ever expect to do anything serious about traffic.

A repair is certainly an investment.

I dont buy that a 1% sales tax increase will reduce purchases at all. Are you going to buy less food now that you have to pay an extra 3 cents?

Not really sure why you think there will be little development. All projections tend to indicate that 3 million new residents will be here by 2040.

I think we need to get off this "all politicians are crooks" argument. What do you want to do? Organize you're own treasury department and go around asking for donations?

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by arjay57

If this fails to pass, there will no political appetite whatsoever to try again. It will fall into the category of raising the gas tax -- i.e., ain't gonna happen.

There is so little political fire in this state. Maybe General Sherman needs to come back.

Seriously ... I don't get it. Yes, I realize that regional transportation plans are complex, but this shouldn't be that hard. Not talking about the TSPLOST, but the apparent certainty that we have this one shot and then nothing. Nobody has the energy to reload and try again? Has Atlanta lost its virility? "Giving up" is not a survival characteristic.

[cqholt]

Then you have Atlanta... they are actually getting a disproportionately high share of the revenue and that is ok. They will get upgrades to most major arterial roads in the core (that don't already have them)... this along is big.

Actually Cherokee, Fayette, Henry, and Rockdale Counties are getting more money for projects than they will put in. Atlanta is where the majority of the money will come from and where the majority of outta-towners will spend their money to fund our transportation improvements. The additional 1% will not make Atlanta's sales tax the highest in the SE, that goes to Birmingham and Montgomery. Its a simple 1% to be paid by EVERYONE. Rich, poor, ITP, OTP, tourist, conventioneer, everyone that will improve the flow of traffic and goods thru the metro. Then every local jursidication gets millions, over 10 years, to spend on what ever transportation improvements they want. If Cobb wants new intersections with fancy poles, DeKalb wants sidewalks, Gwinnett wants to widen roads, or Fulton wants bike paths. They can spend it on what ever projects they choose. And here's the bets part, there is a citizens review board to ensure all projects are on-time and on budget. If after 10 years we didn't like how the tax worked, then we don't approve the next round. Its checks and balances on how our 1% tax will be spent.
Here is a great article from a worthy magazine that explains the biggest projects and how the tax will work, if you have never read the final report, please read this small article Day of Reckoning: TSPLOST - Culture - Atlanta Magazine

[cqholt]

Got questions about the TIA? Here are some of the most FAQ http://www.metroatlantatransportatio...une_6-4-12.pdf. Includes what the GA400 toll revenue goes towards as well. Citizen review oversight on projects.

[belleislerunner]

Senate Majority Leader Rogers and the Transportation Leadership Coalition held a press conference Monday morning to criticize the proposal, calling it a tax hike that doesn't solve the transportation problems.

Someone passed out fliers under all the doors in my complex yesterday that said "A Yes Vote on July 31 raises your sales tax 15%. Vote No. Keep more of your money from the 1%"

Prominent lawmakers blast transportation referendum - CBS Atlanta 46