Gwinnett Daily Post | Gwinnett to devote 70 percent of sales tax program to transportation

LAWRENCEVILLE — Hoping to take care of capital needs, Gwinnett officials have proposed that 70 percent of a three-year sales tax program be devoted to transportation.

While commissioners are expected to call for a referendum to allow for the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax on November ballots later this month, an agreement approved Tuesday outlines how the up to $498 million would be allocated between governments.

“We’ve tried to honor what we think is important to the community and to restrain ourselves to some extent,” County Commission Chairwoman Charlotte Nash said of the proposal, which also devotes money to public safety equipment like guns, fire engines and ambulances and library renovations.

While parks and recreation has received up to a 40 percent of the proceeds in the early 2000s, this proposal would limit the funds to 7.5 percent, less than $30 million, likely devoted to renovations and expansions rather than new parks. Another small piece, about 1.5 percent, has been designated for senior facilities.

Mayors from Gwinnett’s 16 cities are expected to sign off next week on the agreement, which would give 21.1 percent of proceeds to the municipalities. While cities make up about 25 percent of the county’s population, the agreement was reached due to the fact that the county maintains a large network of roads even within city limits. The county also agreed to set aside $25 million of the up to $275 million it would receive for transportation to devote to joint city/county projects.

via Gwinnett Daily Post | Gwinnett to devote 70 percent of sales tax program to transportation.