By Ashley Speagle

Correspondent

ATLANTA -- Whitfield County officials said even if the governor's transportation plan passes the Legislature, area residents may not approve it.

"We have to convince those voters to approve a SPLOST (special purpose local option sales tax) to fund a project that might not affect them," Whitfield County Commissioner Mike Babb said. "It's hard enough to get them at times to approve a penny for their own county."

After years of debate and no solution, House and Senate leaders seem finally to be on the same page in supporting a regional transportation tax to fund Georgia's growing need for transportation projects.

"Georgia is the third-fastest growing state in the nation, yet it is the 49th in transportation spending, so we definitely need funds," said Dr. Mohamed Arafa, spokesman for Georgia Department of Transportation.

Gov. Sonny Perdue's funding plan for transportation would have voters in 12 regional districts vote in 2012 on an eight-year 1 percent sales tax to fund a list of transportation projects in their region.

Each region would retain all the funds raised, but counties would receive certain funds based on population and lane miles, which concerns some officials.

"Probably Floyd, Bartow and Whitfield would be donor counties because we have a good deal of retail business," Mr. Babb said.

"The distribution should not be by population; it should be by the dollars you raise," Dalton, Ga., Mayor David Pennington said. "It's our money, and we've always been a net provider."

Whitfield officials also said slow progression on a current local 1 percent sales tax may also deter voters from passing another regional 1 percent sales tax.

"I don't think until these projects are completed they'll vote for another SPLOST," said Rep. Roger Williams, R-Dalton.

"SPLOST votes are generally passed up in our area," Rep. Tom Dickson said, R-Cohutta.

If other voters in Whitfield's region do pass the 1 percent sales tax, though, Whitfield cannot get out of raising the tax or transfer to a different region under Gov. Perdue's bill.

"If it passes overall, the whole district is obligated, and I don't feel comfortable with that part of the legislation," Rep. Dickson said.

Despite some issues with House Bill 1218, many officials still recognize the need for transportation development and funds to make it happen.

"It's something we finally needed," Rep. Williams said.

Mr. Babb said despite bad dealings with GDOT and his belief that transportation funding should be on a statewide level, funds must be found.

"There's got to be money somewhere to address these transportation needs," Mr. Babb said.

"I know that new taxes is not popular today, but the one redeeming quality is that we're talking about giving people the option to decide if they need an additional penny," Rep. Dickson said.

Ashley Speagle covers the Georgia Legislature. Contact her at speagle.ashley@timesfreepress.com.