A $500 million question on state transportation plan: Money diverted from city, county resources?

Rome City Commissioner Wendy Davis is sounding the red alert — and several stories in today’s AJC confirm — over the state’s proposed transportation “solution” that would divert nearly $500 million that current goes to cities and counties into transportation funding.

Writes Davis on her Facebook page with links to the AJC reports: “Don’t believe the hype-this legislation can’t be “revenue neutral” and raise $1 BILLION. They are planning to take more than $500 million from local gov’ts. I’ll save you locals some time and tell you that is $3,073,165.83 the Floyd County, the cities of Rome and Cave Spring and our two school boards will LOSE. Do you think our budgets have that kind of “fat” we can cut? Bartow neighbors, y’all should head to the Capitol now with your pitchforks…your gas station haven will have the state grab more than $12.2 million. Gordon, brace yourselves…nearly $5.2 million. Tell your legislators to stop playing games and shoot straight about the need to raise taxes for transportation at the state level. Get your paws off our local sales taxes!!!!”

AJC Political Insider Jim Galloway’s column: Click

AJC’s link to the Georgia Municipal Association’s chart of the impact of the House-proposed Transportation Funding Act on county and city governments. Click here for your copy.