Franklin BOC Approves Letters of Protest to State on Transportation Bill

Franklin County Commissioners are moving forward with their plan to send a Resolution to State lawmakers on the proposed Transportation Funding Act.

At their meeting Monday evening, Franklin County Manager Beth Thomas gave the board a draft of the letter protesting HB170 that would convert the current gas tax system to a flat 29.2 cents per gallon tax.

“At the last work session, we felt it was the time to convey to our representatives the impact this bill will have on Franklin County,” she told the board. “Based on that, I have drafted a  Resolution that I based on another county but modified for Franklin County’s purposes. In addition, I have drafted a letter to State Representative Alan Powell, State Senator John Wilkinson, and also to Senator Frank Ginn.” 

The idea of a flat tax is drawing protest from local communities and counties around Georgia because of the loss of local gas sales tax revenue.

Currently, gasoline in Georgia is subjected to an excise tax of 7.5 cents per gallon, a 4% sales tax and in most places another local sales tax of 3%-4%.

Earlier, County Commission Chair Thomas Bridges said the loss of the local sales tax would be devastating to the County.

“It would be devastating,” Bridges said. “We would lose about $3 million in diesel fuel sales tax and about a million in regular gasoline fuel.”

Bridges said Monday that the letter drawn up by Thomas was requested by State Representative Alan Powell.

“In correspondence with Alan Powell he asked that a letter be written so that State lawmakers don’t think Powell is, “blowing smoke.”

HB 170 passed out of committee Monday with a Do Pass recommendation and was sent to the Rules Committee.  If it makes out of the Rules Committee, the bill must pass in the House before going to the Senate next week on Crossover Day.

If it passes, HB170 would raise at least $1 billion per year in gas tax revenue.

Among other things, the money would be used for road improvements and to eventually build a high-speed rail line through the state.