ATLANTA --- Calling Georgia's transportation bureaucracy "broken," the state's Republican leaders on Thursday proposed a sweeping reorganization that would alter the way money flows to road, transit and bridge projects.
The plan would give the Legislature and the governor far more power in distributing transportation funds, a move designed to provide more accountability over a department mired in financial troubles.
Metro Atlanta has among the worst commute times in the nation, and transportation spending has lagged behind the state's explosive population growth.
An audit showed the department had promised more projects than it could deliver, and it is facing a steep budget shortfall. Business leaders have been lobbying hard, saying the roads have turned away businesses interested in coming to the state.
Gov. Sonny Perdue said Thursday the easy solution would be to pour money on the problem.
"I believe we have been funneling money into a poorly designed system," he said.
Mr. Perdue's plan would replace the 13-person state transportation board now elected by the Legislature with a new 11-member panel. The current board is elected by congressional district. In the new panel, five members would be appointed by the governor, and three each by the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the House.
The plan would merge the State Road and Tollway Authority and the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority into a new state transportation authority.
The state's motor fuel tax would remain dedicated to road and bridge projects, but transportation funds would be appropriated by state lawmakers.
The plan comes as separate proposals advance in the House and the Senate to boost the sales tax to provide additional money for transportation.
AUGUSTAN REMAINS A DOT BOARD MEMBER
Augusta's Bill Kuhlke, who was re-elected to his Transportation Department board seat without opposition Thursday, said in an interview that he and the board have been responsive to mayors and county commissioners, if not directly to individual legislators. His re-election without opposition demonstrates how content lawmakers are with him, he said.
Gov. Sonny Perdue's plan, Mr. Kuhlke said, could allow road building to become politicized by concentrating power in the hands of a governor.
"Power should not be bestowed upon one person," he said.
Mr. Kuhlke said he had no input in the plan but that he and the board would not lobby against it. "It's a little bit baffling to us," he said.
Augusta's Bill Kuhlke, who was re-elected to his Transportation Department board seat without opposition Thursday, said in an interview that he and the board have been responsive to mayors and county commissioners, if not directly to individual legislators. His re-election without opposition demonstrates how content lawmakers are with him, he said.
Gov. Sonny Perdue's plan, Mr. Kuhlke said, could allow road building to become politicized by concentrating power in the hands of a governor.
"Power should not be bestowed upon one person," he said.
Mr. Kuhlke said he had no input in Mr. Perdue's plan but that he and the board would not lobby against it.
-- Morris News Service
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