The following is a summary of the current version of the H.B. 1674 that will be heard by the House Committee on Transportation on April 21, 2009.
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- Mike
H.B. 1674
Bexar County Transportation Local Option
Bill Highlights
April 16, 2009 Version
Single Local Option
- County motor gasoline and diesel fuel tax - not to exceed 10 cents per gallon
- Collected by the Comptroller, similar to current practice for state and federal gasoline tax
- Five-year gradual implementation process - 2 cents first year, followed by 2 additional cents each year until 10 cents is reached
Governance Structure
- ATD must create an advisory committee who is responsible for making recommendations to the County Commissioners Court about transportation projects to pursue with revenue raised through this fund
- committee members include representatives from San Antonio, Leon Valley, the County, and state legislators
- Commissioners Court would hold public hearings, adopt a list of proposed projects and tax rate
- Commissioners Court calls election on proposal
- election can be held no sooner than November, 2012
- election must be in November in an even numbered year
Eligible Projects
- No less than 80% of the revenue must be dedicated to mass transit
- Revenue can not directly or indirectly go to supporting toll road projects
- Projects must come from VIA's Comprehensive Multi-Modal Transportation Plan
- First consideration must go to projects that connect major workforce and population hubs and that foster geographic equity
- Funds may not supplant other transit revenue
Other
- Prohibits state from using local funds to supplant state transportation funding
- Termination of tax once debt service defeased for both construction and operation and maintenance of transportation project
