Late Breaking News

Construction Measures Pass Throughout Southeast

Voters throughout the four-state region passed numerous ballot initiatives favored by the construction industry on Nov. 2. The transportation sector was a big winner, with six of seven measures approved, including the repeal of a previously passed amendment in Florida that had initiated construction of a statewide high-speed rail system. The campaign to stop this controversial system from moving forward was led by Gov. Jeb Bush, with the Florida Transportation Builders Association also working hard to kill it. Both Gov. Bush and FTBA claimed the rail project's massive price tag would have diverted as much as $25 billion from the state's more pressing transportation needs. The amendment to repeal the previously enacted legislation was funded by a group known as Derail the Bullet Train (DEBT).

In Charleston Co., S.C., voters overwhelmingly passed a half-cent sales tax that will raise an estimated $1.3 billion over the next 25 years and fund transportation system improvements, including both road and public transit system projects. In Beaufort Co., S.C., however, a new 1 percent tax for capital projects was defeated as voters split 50-50 on the measure.

In Georgia, voters in Richmond and Rockdale counties approved new Special Purpose Local Option Sales Taxes (SPLOST). The Richmond County measure will raise an estimated $468 million for various projects, including road construction, while in Rockdale County the new tax will raise about $50 million for roads, streets and bridges. Also in Georgia, Fayette County voters increased their current SPLOST tax by 1 cent to raise between $106 million and $115 million in new funds. The county wants to use this money to obtain federal funds for future local projects.

Back in Florida, Miami-Dade County voters approved a $352 million bond issue for bridges, public infrastructure and neighborhood improvement projects.

Also, increased school funding was a winner in Palm Beach County, where voters approved a half-cent local sales tax increase that is estimated to raise the $560 million the school district predicts will be required to complete the projects included in its current Five-Year Capital Plan.