Fayette State

Senator Mitch Seabaugh wants to dedicate all motor fuel sales tax funds

to road improvements.

Seabaugh, R-Sharpsburg,

pre-filed a bill to that effect last week. The bill can only be acted

on once the legislature convenes the 2002 session on January 14.

Although the

1 percent sales tax on motor vehicle fuel generated approximately $65

million last year, only $29 million was spent on local road assistance

programs, Seabaugh said. The remaining $36 million was lumped in the state's

general purpose funds, Seabaugh said.

The bill would

not result in a tax increase, but it will re-direct revenues that are

currently collected, Seabaugh noted.

"These

tax revenues come from motor fuel sales and they should be used for road

improvements, not pork projects," Seabaugh said. "Without this

bill, local road assistance money is at risk of disappearing to the black

hole of pork projects and duplicitous bureaucracies."

Seabaugh said

the proposal has bipartisan support and there is "a lot of support

throughout Georgia for this bill."