Atlanta, GA. – Governor Deal signed HB 170, the Critical Transportation Infrastructure Funding Act of the 2015 legislative session today. Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG), Georgia’s county association, thanks county officials from across the state for their diligent efforts throughout the entire legislative process in working to modify the bill for the benefit of counties.

“HB 170 is a significant piece of legislation that impacts all counties,” ACCG Executive Director Ross King said. “We are grateful to have such an actively engaged statewide membership, support from association leadership and the ACCG staff during the study committee and legislative process. With our members’ recommendations and guidance, ACCG had a seat at the table throughout the entire modification process in regard to this bill.”

As the official membership organization for all 159 county governments in Georgia, ACCG undertakes issues before the General Assembly on counties’ behalf to ensure legislation does not have an adverse effect on the state’s constitutionally designated political subdivisions. HB 170 includes many provisions that impact counties yet retains the flexibility of their local sales taxes on motor fuel while adding additional tools to raise revenue for local investment in transportation infrastructure through the self-start of a regional TSPLOST and a single county SPLOST for transportation purposes. In addition, local governments will see an increase in their Local Maintenance Improvement Grant (LMIG) funds of approximately 30 percent after a full year of HB 170 being in effect as a result of the increase in the state motor fuel excise tax.

HB 106 is the clean-up bill for the single county TSPLOST provision in HB 170. Still awaiting the Governor’s signature, the clean-up bill is vital to providing guidance to local governments in implementing the new law.

“Though each county has its own needs, ensuring adequate transportation infrastructure in our communities is a priority for us all,” said ACCG President and Gwinnett County Chairman Charlotte Nash. “We appreciate the efforts of state leadership that resulted in the passage of HB 170 and look forward to working together to address the needs of Georgia residents and businesses.”

Originally known as commissioners of roads and revenue, Georgia’s county commissioners are tasked with ensuring the state’s throughways are maintained as county governments are responsible for 70 percent of the road network and just over 8,000 bridges. In Rockdale, Transportation Director Miguel Valentin said that based on the most recent system-wide pavement condition assessment, it would require $6 to $8 million annually to adequately maintain the county’s 514 miles of roads, which is substantially above the County’s current maintenance program levels.

“With the federal Transportation Trust Fund running out by the end of May, unless Congress acts to provide funding before then, the states and local governments have to rely on other sources of funding to address our road maintenance needs,” Valentin said. “The modest increase in funding HB 170 will provide through GDOT’s Local Maintenance and Improvement Program will provide a bit of relief.

“However, it still leaves a significant gap in funding, which we must continue seek ways to meet.”

This legislation will provide more flexibility in the revenue sources that Rockdale County may access to address those specific transportation infrastructure needs.

“This is a giant step forward for the great state of Georgia,” Rockdale CEO & Chairman Richard Oden said. “It took collaboration, courage and hard work from everyone involved during this painful process to find a workable plan for the entire state.

“Years down the road our future legislators will be proud of what took place on Monday May 4, 2015.  ACCG policy council members and all the legislative directors played a huge part in guiding this process, and for that I am proud to have been a part in some small way in this historical experience.”