Amendment No. 3: New type of tax district would boost the economy

In this historic election, Georgians concerned about our economic future have an extra incentive to vote. There is a constitutional amendment on the ballot that can directly benefit our state’s economy and quality of life.

Amendment No. 3 would allow for the creation of Infrastructure Development Districts, or IDDs. IDDs are a fiscally conservative, environmentally friendly economic development opportunity that comes at a time when our state’s economy desperately needs it.

If approved by the voters, IDDs give local governments a new option for financing the construction and maintenance of public infrastructure. Projects may include necessary water, sewer, solid waste, roads, bridges, transit, public safety facilities, schools and parks. IDDs support the infrastructure that attracts quality economic development and good jobs.

Besides job creation, IDDs have numerous other benefits. The districts are subject to higher standards of planning, oversight and environmental protection, including an unprecedented 20 percent green space requirement and water management safeguards. Additionally, only the new residents of the IDD pay the assessments that back the bonds for the infrastructure projects. The new residents voluntarily agree to the assessments, placing no burden on existing taxpayers.

It is important to note that IDDs do not have governmental taxing authority. They cannot be formed without 100 percent landowner participation and local government approval. Local governments maintain all rights of zoning, permitting, land-use planning, policing powers and eminent domain.

IDDs are not a new concept. In fact, 17 states have authorized similar districts. Georgia’s elected officials, Democrats and Republicans, looked at the successes of these districts in other states before putting this bipartisan amendment on the ballot.

In states where IDDs

have been utilized, they

are a financing tool for attracting quality economic development and ultimately keeping local property taxes low.

Some opponents of the IDD amendment view today’s economic crisis as an opportunity to completely halt growth, regardless of the cost to a sluggish Georgia economy.

We hope Georgians’ common sense will lead them to pass this fiscally conservative, environmentally sound, economic development tool by voting YES on amendment No. 3.

• Heath Garrett serves on the board of Georgians for Quality Economic Development, a nonprofit organization committed to the passage of the IDD amendment.