4/14/04-The Senate killed a bill April 1 by delaying a vote on the proposal that sought to shift up to $70 million in the state’s fuel tax revenue out of the general fund to pay for road paving and other transportation projects statewide.
HB1295, which previously passed the House, would exempt interstate projects from a controversial funding formula. The formula requires the state to distribute 85 percent of road-building funds evenly among Georgia’s 13 congressional districts.
Georgia taxes all drivers 7.5 cents per gallon of fuel to pay for everything from road widening to bridge replacement. Drivers also pay a 4 percent retail tax for every dollar’s worth of fuel purchased. Combined, the two taxes total roughly 12 cents a gallon.
Of the retail tax collected, 3 percent is dedicated to road and bridge improvements. The remaining 1 percent is forwarded to the state general fund.
Under the proposal, that single percent – $60 million to $70 million a year – also would be dedicated to transportation. Seventy-five percent of the collections would be used for the state’s local assistance road program, which doles out money to counties and cities to repave local roads.
The remaining 25 percent would go to the Transportation Department’s state aid program, which helps local governments fund projects.

3/20/04-The Senate Transportation Committee approved a bill that would shift up to $70 million in the state’s fuel tax revenue out of the general fund to pay for road paving and other transportation projects statewide.
The proposal would exempt interstate projects from a controversial funding formula. The formula requires the state to distribute 85 percent of road-building funds evenly among Georgia’s 13 congressional districts.
Georgia taxes all drivers 7.5 cents per gallon of fuel to pay for everything from road widening to bridge replacement. Drivers also pay a 4 percent retail tax for every dollar’s worth of fuel purchased. Combined the two taxes total roughly 12 cents a gallon.
Of the retail tax collected, 3 percent is dedicated to road and bridge improvements. The remaining 1 percent is forwarded to the state general fund.
Under HB1295, that single percent – $60 million to $70 million a year – also would be dedicated to transportation. Seventy-five percent of the collections would be used for the state’s local assistance road program, which doles out money to counties and cities to repave local roads.
The remaining 25 percent would go to the Transportation Department’s state aid program, which helps local governments fund projects.
The bill, which already passed the House, has been sent to the full Senate.
For bill status, call (404) 656-5015.

2/25/04-A House bill would shift up to $70 million in the state’s fuel tax revenue out of the general fund to pay for road paving and other transportation projects statewide.
The proposal would exempt interstate projects from a controversial funding formula. The formula requires the state to distribute 85 percent of road-building funds evenly among Georgia’s 13 congressional districts.
Georgia taxes all drivers 7.5 cents per gallon of fuel to pay for everything from road widening to bridge replacement. Drivers also pay a 4 percent retail tax for every dollar’s worth of fuel purchased. Combined the two taxes total roughly 12 cents a gallon.
Of the retail tax collected, 3 percent is dedicated to road and bridge improvements. The remaining 1 percent is forwarded to the state general fund.
Under HB1295, that single percent – $60 million to $70 million a year – also would be dedicated to transportation. Seventy-five percent of the collections would be used for the state’s local assistance road program, which doles out money to counties and cities to repave local roads.
The remaining 25 percent would go to the Transportation Department’s state aid program, which helps local governments fund projects.
HB1295 was approved by the full House 152-1 Feb. 19. It has been referred to the Senate.
For bill status, call (404) 656-5015.