Southern Georgia Region Voters Renew Transportation Sales Tax

What happened: Voters in 18 counties in the Southern Georgia region voted on May 21 to renew a one-cent local sales tax for transportation improvements.

What it matters: The measure, passed with 56.75 percent approval, will fund 209 projects throughout the region starting in 2026. The tax will generate nearly $467 million over its 10-year lifespan, with an additional $202 million contribution from the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT). Local agencies are still completing the first phase of the sales tax, which was approved by voters in 2018 and generated more than $364 million in revenue for 151 projects through 2028.

The Transportation Investment Act (TIA) of 2012 enabled counties to create a regional sales tax for transportation purposes. Three other regions- River Valley, Central Savannah River Area, and Heart of Georgia Alamaha (HOGA)- approved the local sales tax in 2012, and two of those regions- River Valley and HOGA- renewed the tax in 2022.

The first round of the tax (TIA 1) in those four regions funded 1,022 projects with a total budget of $1.9 billion. The three regions that renewed the tax (TIA 2) will deliver 787 projects with a total budget of $1.98 billion.

What comes next: Follow ARTBA-TIAC for ballot measure updates after the November election.

Read More:

• Georgia’s Transportation Investment Act Fact Sheet
• GDOT Press Release: Voters approve a second 10-year TIA term for Southern Georgia region, expected to go into effect in 2026