Message Summary: The Transportation Funding Act of 2015

Georgia is enjoying unprecedented job and business expansion, and our roads are not
keeping pace with todays fast-growing economy. The state transportation budget has
long struggled to match Georgias rapid progress, resulting in too many roads and
bridges in need of critical maintenance, and public transit systems that are lagging
behind. For years state leaders have studied and debated solutions to cure our
infrastructure woes, and the time to act is now.
Currently, Georgia is operating on a fifty year turnaround rate for repaving roads.
Georgias families simply cannot afford a crisis of job loss or more valuable time and fuel
wasted in traffic because the state failed to take measures that ensure further prosperity
for its citizens. By taking necessary action now, House Republicans are working to
make certain that Georgia remains the number one state to do business.
Georgia House Republicans are committed to allowing taxpayers to keep more of their
hard-earned income. While others have pushed for a raised income or sales tax,
Republican leadership carefully crafted the Transportation Act of 2015 to avoid raising
the state income tax or sales tax, which would place additional burden on hardworking
Georgia families.
House Republicans are providing a long-term solution to meet Georgias most
urgent transportation needs without raising taxes on Georgia families.
House Republicans are taking careful measures to safeguard Georgias upward trend of
business growth and job creation.
Safe, well-maintained roads and bridges will enhance quality of life and continue to
attract new businesses to our state.
Currently, there are over 2,300 bridges across the state are considered structurally
deficient or have been flagged as needing improvement. TFA will provide sufficient
funding to accelerate the reparation and safety maintenance of these critical
structures.

 House Republicans are putting forth a transportation plan that avoids new sales or
income taxes in effort to ensure the lowest possible impact on the average Georgia
household.
The current state gas tax includes a 4% sales tax that varies with the cost of gas,
the flat excise-only model under TFA will never vary, meaning that when fuel pri ces
increase, Georgia gas taxes will likely remain low compared to other states.
Truck drivers and companies who depend on Georgias roads will receive greater
tax benefit as a result of this legislation by being able to receive more tax credit on
their excise tax costs.

The TFA creates more stability in state budgeting over the long term, allowing for better
prediction of funding and greater stewardship of tax dollars.
Federal funding aid for transportation varies year by year and is not reliable in
keeping up with Georgias needs.
By creating a flat, permanent excise tax, the state gains greater ability in
forecasting fiscal means and can more reliably plan for road and bridge
improvements.
TFA will benefit communities across the entire state, not just metro Atlanta.
Although no funding is allowed to support public transit under the current gas tax,
TFA allocates transportation dollars for public transit expansion across the state.
TFA increases Local Maintenance and Improvement Grants (LMIG), which will
especially benefit road building and maintenance efforts in rural Georgia.

Q&A: The Transportation Funding Act of 2015

Q: Will the price at the pump change?
A: Republican lawmakers have taken great pains to consider the impact of TFA on
Georgia families, and worked to keep gas prices competitive with other states. If
approved, TFA will convert the current gas tax to a flat excise rate of 29.2 cents per
gallon. That means current fuel prices would increase about 7.7 cents per gallon, which
will still keep Georgias gas taxes competitive against the national average.

Q: Is the Transportation Funding Act of 2015 tax increase?

A: House Republicans have listened to the people of the state, who have
overwhelmingly stood against increases in income or sales taxes. Thats why the
Transportation Act of 2015 includes a tax conversion, which does away with the current
sales tax and moves to an excise-only model. By doing this, legislators are working to
ensure that Georgians are not faced with the burden of new taxes, while still putting
forth a long-term solution that will meet the most urgent transportation needs of the
state.
Q: How will communities outside metro Atlanta benefit from the Transportation
Act of 2015?
A: Too often, rural and non-metro communities fall through the cracks when transit
needs arise or road and bridge projects are on the line. Republican lawmakers are
committed to ensuring that all Georgians benefit from TFA, and have taken steps to
even the playing field when it comes to transportation funding. This includes expanding
the states successful Local Maintenance and Improvement Grants (LMIG) program and
providing extra funding to Georgias 128 transit providers, enabling more communities
across our state to take advantage of public transportation options.