Leery commissioners look likely to extend sales tax for MARTA

DeKalb commissioners appear poised to pledge the county’s allegiance — and a full penny sales tax — to MARTA for an additional decade.

But they’re still searching for ways to ensure the transit agency will deliver what it’s promising.

Late last year, MARTA’s board approved a long-dis- cussed contract amend- ment that would extend the penny sales tax collected in its four member jurisdictions through 2057. Under the current contract with Atlanta and Clayton, DeKalb and Ful- ton counties, the tax would be reduced to a half-penny in 2047. MARTA officials say they need to extend the existing commitment to continue funding operations and capital projects.

Only three of the four mem- bers jurisdictions need to approve the amendment in order for it be ratified, and Atlanta, Clayton and Fulton have already done so.

In DeKalb, though, commissioners on the public works and infrastructure commit- tee voted Tuesday to recommend moving forward with approval. A vote of the full commission is likely to take place next week.

“I think that most of (MAR- ) upside is still dependent on our continued support,” Commissioner Jeff Rader said. But he and other officials continued to raise concerns about DeKalb being left high and dry.

Under the amendment, MARTA commits to incor- porating DeKalb’s new tran- sit master plan into its engineering report.

Other commitments include new transit centers at South DeKalb Mall and in Stone- crest; faster bus service in the Buford Highway and Candler Road corridors; and continued support of transit-oriented developments. The amendment also includes dates for the refurbishment of eight DeKalb County MARTA stations and says about 350 local bus stations will be upgraded by 2024.

Rader, meanwhile, asked what recourse the county would have if MARTA failed to deliver on projects altogether or in their promised time frames. County attorney Viviane Ernstes said it would likely be difficult for DeKalb to take successful legal action.

AJC 2017 The sales tax amendment includes new transit centers at South DeKalb Mall and in Stonecrest, dates for the refurbishment of eight DeKalb MARTA stations and says about 350 bus stations will be upgraded by 2024.