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03 LC 18 2135
House Resolution
66
By: Representatives Day of the 126th, Stephens of the 123rd and Roberts of the 131st
By: Representatives Day of the 126th, Stephens of the 123rd and Roberts of the 131st
A RESOLUTION
Urging the State Road and Tollway Authority to use tolls
from individual projects to pay for only those individual projects, and no
others; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, when toll facilities have been constructed, the State of Georgia has represented to its citizens that the revenues from the tolls collected for the use of such facility would be used to pay for the construction of that facility and would cease when the bonds for the construction of the facility were retired; and
WHEREAS, the Georgia Department of Transportation and the State Road and Tollway Authority have entered into an agreement with the federal government which amends the original funding arrangements for the construction of toll facilities to permit the use of the toll revenues from those project to be used to fund other projects; and
WHEREAS, the fundamental underlying principle in the collection and use of tolls for roads and other such projects should be that the users of the project who benefit from the project should pay for its construction and, upon the completion of the payment for the costs associated with the construction of the project, the tolls should cease; and
WHEREAS, tolls should not be used as general revenue sources or as a mechanism for taxing the users of one project to pay for the construction of a different road or project; and
WHEREAS, this change in the funding arrangement for toll facilities violates these basic principles by authorizing that toll revenues from one project may be taken and used for other projects, thereby converting the toll into a tax; and
WHEREAS, this arrangement also violates the trust which the citizens of this state have placed in their government to stand by its promises and representations; and
WHEREAS, this arrangement should be immediately reversed and voided and all toll revenues from any existing or future toll facility should be committed to that facility only and for no other project.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body call upon the State Road and Tollway Authority to restore the previous understanding for the funding of toll facilities and urge the Governor, the State Department of Transportation, the State Road and Tollway Authority, and the U.S. Congress to adopt a policy that the toll revenues from any individual project shall be used only for the payment of the construction bonds and costs for such project; that, when such bonds are retired, toll collections on that project will cease; and that such toll revenues from that project will never be used for any other road or project.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the Governor, the Commissioner of Transportation, the U.S. Congressional delegation from Georgia, and the executive director of the State Road and Tollway Authority.
WHEREAS, when toll facilities have been constructed, the State of Georgia has represented to its citizens that the revenues from the tolls collected for the use of such facility would be used to pay for the construction of that facility and would cease when the bonds for the construction of the facility were retired; and
WHEREAS, the Georgia Department of Transportation and the State Road and Tollway Authority have entered into an agreement with the federal government which amends the original funding arrangements for the construction of toll facilities to permit the use of the toll revenues from those project to be used to fund other projects; and
WHEREAS, the fundamental underlying principle in the collection and use of tolls for roads and other such projects should be that the users of the project who benefit from the project should pay for its construction and, upon the completion of the payment for the costs associated with the construction of the project, the tolls should cease; and
WHEREAS, tolls should not be used as general revenue sources or as a mechanism for taxing the users of one project to pay for the construction of a different road or project; and
WHEREAS, this change in the funding arrangement for toll facilities violates these basic principles by authorizing that toll revenues from one project may be taken and used for other projects, thereby converting the toll into a tax; and
WHEREAS, this arrangement also violates the trust which the citizens of this state have placed in their government to stand by its promises and representations; and
WHEREAS, this arrangement should be immediately reversed and voided and all toll revenues from any existing or future toll facility should be committed to that facility only and for no other project.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body call upon the State Road and Tollway Authority to restore the previous understanding for the funding of toll facilities and urge the Governor, the State Department of Transportation, the State Road and Tollway Authority, and the U.S. Congress to adopt a policy that the toll revenues from any individual project shall be used only for the payment of the construction bonds and costs for such project; that, when such bonds are retired, toll collections on that project will cease; and that such toll revenues from that project will never be used for any other road or project.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the Governor, the Commissioner of Transportation, the U.S. Congressional delegation from Georgia, and the executive director of the State Road and Tollway Authority.