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By Aaron Gould Sheinin
Bill to ease MARTA finances takes another step
Atlanta's transit system would regain some financial flexibility under legislation approved in the state House on Thursday.
The House voted overwhelmingly to approve both House Bill 264 and HB 265, sponsored by Rep. Mike Jacobs, R-Brookhaven. But, both were amended in the House, which requires them to return to the Senate for consideration on this, the final day of the 2014 session.
HB 264 would lift for three years the requirement that MARTA spend 50 percent of its sales tax revenues on operations and 50 percent on maintenance or capital improvements. An earlier lifting of that requirement has expired.
HB 264 also makes changes to how the transit system's board is appointed.
HB 265 now primarily exists to allow Clayton County to hold a referendum in November on whether to join MARTA by levying a 1-cent sales tax. Atlanta and DeKalb and Fulton counties are the only entities that fund MARTA, all via a penny sales tax.
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