Five Georgia Counties to Decide on Transportation Tax
Aug. 12, 2022
These votes have the power to bring in funding for infrastructure
This fall, five counties in Georgia - Chatham, Forsyth, Habersham, Morgan, and Oconee Counties - will vote to decide to authorize or renew taxes that benefit transportation work.
Voters will decide whether to approve a 1% tax that would be used solely for local infrastructure.
The county currently collects a 7% sales tax. The county consists of eight municipalities including the city of Savannah
The tax is estimated to raise $143 million for the city of Savannah. The biggest portion, $42 million, would be applied for easing roadway congestion in the state’s fifth most populous city.
Another $20 million would be allocated for local roadway resurfacing and maintenance projects. Projects focused on traffic calming improvement and expansion would get $7.5 million, and a bridge repair program would receive $3 million.
In the span of five years, the 1% tax is estimated to raise $420 million throughout the county.
In Forsyth County:
The five-year, 1% tax is estimated to raise $250 million. Money would be distributed among the county and the city of Cumming to address approved project lists.
Forsyth county now collects a 7% sales tax.
69% of the new tax revenue would stay with the county. $173.2 million of the revenue, would be used for capital projects to address congestion and “critical” new roadway connection. $20 million would be applied for intersection safety improvements. Finally, $4.6 million would be used for roadway resurfacing and improvements.
In Habersham County:
The county currently collects a 7% sales tax.
The tax is estimated to generate $44 million over five years. $33.4 million would go to the northeast Georgia county.
Approximately $10 million would be allocated for existing bridge repair and replacement in the county. $3.4 million would be used for roadway projects. Lastly, $800,000 would be earmarked for safety improvements, re-striping, guardrails, and signs.
The remainder would go to the county’s five cities.
In Morgan County:
Morgan county has collected the 1% transportation tax since 2019. The current tax will expire when $18 million in revenue is raised. To date, the county has collected $14.5 million.
Voter approval would permit the tax to be extended, once the threshold is reached.
The tax renewal is estimated to raise $25 million over five years.
In Oconee County:
The tax was rejected in 2021 by voters.
The new revenue would raise about $71 million over five years.
About two-thirds of that amount would go toward county roads. The cities of Bishop, North High Shoals and Watkinsville would divvy the rest.
