Fulton-Dekalb Want Help with MARTA Funding

By Jonathan Shapiro

Atlanta, GA – Governor Perdue wants to create a 10 county metro Atlanta region that would have the power to tax itself specifically for local transportation projects.The plan is making its rounds at the state Capitol and details are being hashed out.

Today, officials from DeKalb and Fulton met to discuss their interests in the ongoing debate over the governor's regional transportation plan. Much of discussion centered around transit, specifically MARTA's budget crises.

"If there is no additional revenue identified right now MARTA will have to cut 25 percent of existing service," said Fulton Commission Chairman John Eaves. "Not only that, 1000 employees will lose their jobs."

Since the 1970s, DeKalb and Fulton alone have paid a one cent sales tax to maintain MARTA. DeKalb commissioner Jeff Radar says it's time for other counties to chip in and start thinking regionally. He strongly supports the Governor's plan to create a metro Atlanta region and supports a regional one cent sales tax for transportation.

But Radar says at least half of any regional tax revenue must be made available to MARTA transit.

"That's the first step that the region must take to in order to reduce the unilateral burden that Fulton and DeKalb bear for the operations of transit in the region," Radar said.

DeKalb and Fulton officials will also fight for proportional representation on any regional planning committee so smaller counties don't wield too much power.

Lawmakers are saying a referendum to create the region could come as early as November and a vote to adopt a sales tax devoted to regional transportation could come as early 2011.