Sen. Steve Gooch says $200M in state’s fund can boost transportation | GainesvilleTimes.com

State Sen. Steve Gooch, R-Dahlonega, said he believes there’s about $200 million squirreled away in the state’s general fund that can help boost transportation.

Transportation funding is expected to be a top issue when the General Assembly reconvenes Monday, as the federal source for highway funding is expected to dry up again early this year.

Out of the 7 percent sales tax generally levied on gas in Georgia, 4 percent goes to the state and 3 percent to local governments. From the 4 percent, 3 percent goes to the Georgia Department of Transportation, but “the fourth penny has been going to the general fund,” Gooch said.

“My No. 1 goal this year is to find that fourth penny and get it out of the budget,” he said. “We need to move it back to where it belongs and that’s with the DOT.”

Gooch said he had heard about the “fourth penny” and “never thought much about it until the last two years, when we’ve been (discussing) how to restore some funding for DOT.

“The (state) Constitution clearly says that all taxes derived from the sale of motor fuel has to be put on transportation … so I think that, before we answer anything from anybody else, we have to go there first.”

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