Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report and pass a resolution that amends the state constitution to allow the General Assembly to provide by general law for a one percent regional local option sales tax levied by a special transportation district to provide funding for transportation purposes.

Highlights:

- Requires the General Assembly to specify the following with respect to the sales tax [sec. 2 (art. IX) (sec. IV) (par. V)]:

- the creation of special transportation districts; - the levy of such tax by the county governing authority participating in a special transportation district if approved by referendum; - the qualifying transportation purposes; - the management and expenditure of the revenue; and - the duration and exemptions.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report and pass a resolution that amends the state constitution to allow the General Assembly to provide by general law for a one percent regional local option sales tax levied by a special transportation district to provide funding for transportation purposes.

Highlights:

- Requires the General Assembly to specify the following with respect to the sales tax [sec. 2 (art. IX) (sec. IV) (par. V)]:

- the creation of special transportation districts; - the levy of such tax by the county governing authority participating in a special transportation district if approved by referendum; - the qualifying transportation purposes; - the management and expenditure of the revenue; and - the duration and exemptions.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a resolution that amends the state constitution to establish special transportation districts that may, if approved by a majority of voters residing the district, levy a sales tax of up to one percent to provide funding for transportation purposes beginning July 1, 2009.

Highlights:

- Aligns the boundaries of the special transportation districts with the boundaries of regional commission areas [sec. 1 (art. IX) (sec. V) (para. V) (b)]. - Requires regional commissions, prior to initiating a referendum, to submit a list of projects that will be funded by the tax to each county commission within the district for approval. If a county commission elects not to be included in the regional commission for purposes of imposing this tax, then no referendum will be held and no tax will be levied in that county [sec. 1 (art. IX) (sec. V) (para. V) (c)]. - Requires the resolution and the ballot submitting the question of the imposition of the tax to the voters to describe the amount of the tax, the specific transportation purposes that will be funded, the maximum cost of the projects, and the maximum period of time for which the tax will be levied [sec. 1 (art. IX) (sec. V) (para. V) (f)]. - Prohibits the tax from being levied on the sale or use of any fuel for heavy-duty equipment, off road farm or agricultural equipment, locomotives, aircraft, or watercraft [sec. 1 (art. IX) (sec. IV) (para. V) (i)]. - Prohibits the revenue from being spent on anything other than transportation purposes [sec. 1 (art. IX) (sec. IV) (para. V) (j)]. - Allocates the revenue derived from the taxes levied on motor fuels used to operate motor vehicles on public roads to a fund within the Department of Transportation to be used for transportation purposes [sec. 1 (art. III) (sec. IX) (para. VI) (b) (2)]. - This is a substitute resolution offered by the House Transportation Committee.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a resolution that amends the state constitution to establish 159 special transportation districts that may, if approved by a majority of voters residing in the district, levy a sales tax of up to one percent to fund regional transportation projects beginning May 1, 2009.

Highlights:

- Requires at least 80 percent of the revenue be spent on specific local transportation projects, and 20 percent be transmitted to the Department of Transportation on a monthly basis. The department is required to use 10 percent of the allocated funds solely for the purpose of constructing, operating, and maintaining mass transit networks, and 10 percent solely for general transportation purposes [sec. 1 (i)]. - Specifies that proceeds from the tax shall not replace the existing general funds for transportation, but supplement the total amount [sec. 1 (c)]. - Requires the tax be applied to the sale of food and beverages, but not to the sale of tangible property used in the production of energy or the sale or use of energy used in manufacturing or processing tangible goods [sec. 1 (g-h)]. - Requires the referendum submitted to the voters to include the specific transportation projects that will be funded by the tax, the maximum costs of such projects, and the maximum period of time that the tax may be levied [sec. 1 (d)]. - This is a substitute bill sponsored by the Senate Transportation Committee.

Full Bill Text