NORTH FULTON COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT MAKES SIGNIFICANT GRANT TO EDUCATE VOTERS ON REGIONAL TR

CID commits $250,000 to educate voters around 1-penny Transportation Investment Act

ALPHARETTA, Ga., June 9, 2011 – The North Fulton Community Improvement District (CID) has made a significant grant to educate voters on the need for regional transportation funding, committing $250,000 to fund the regional education effort around the Transportation Investment Act in metro Atlanta.

The North Fulton CID was the first in the region to commit a full $250,000 to this effort. Other Community Improvement Districts throughout the region also are supporting the education effort around the referendum.

“Educating the public on the one-percent sales tax for transportation is crucial for our region,” said Ann Hanlon, chief operating officer of the North Fulton CID. “To remain competitive, metro Atlanta must fund better transportation and more options.”

The Transportation Investment Act was signed into law in June 2010, putting the future of Georgia's transportation in the voters’ hands. Elected officials in metro Atlanta, along with 11 other regions statewide, will develop a list of regional projects to be funded by a one-percent sales tax. Each region will put its project list before the voters to approve in a ballot measure July 2012.

Should the tax pass in a region, all revenue collected there would stay in that region. Local governments would share 15 percent of the revenues to be spent on any projects they choose. The other 85 percent will be used to fund the list of projects created by each region's transportation roundtable.

In metro Atlanta, the transportation investment act could raise $8 billion for regional transportation improvements. A list of potential projects is being developed now and will be included with the ballot measure.

Business, civic and government leaders throughout metro Atlanta are coming together to create an education campaign, as well as a lobbying campaign, to support the transportation referendum scheduled for 2012. The North Fulton CID’s $250,000 grant will be used to fund education around transportation investment.