Report: Atlanta credit ratings could be impacted by transportation tax rejection

{mosads}The tax proposal was voted down in a closely watched election by an almost 2-to-1 margin, losing 63 to 37 percent. Supporters said it would have generated more than $8 billion for a 10-county region surrounding Atlanta.

The proposal was voted down in 9 of 12 multi-county regions in Atlanta that has created predetermined lists of road and transit projects that would have been funded.

Moody’s said the defeat was especially bad for Atlanta “because of the city’s position as an economic hub, which could be hurt by the area’s current condition of infrastructure.”

The agency added that the approval of the transportation tax was a “credit positive” for the regions of Georgia that voted to pass the proposal. 

The tax was approved in three regions, mostly in the middle and eastern parts of Georgia, where it is scheduled to generate approximately $1.8 billion for infrastructure projects.

“These regions will benefit during and after the new sales tax’s 10-year

collection period as the proceeds will fund a combined 121
transportation-related projects,” Moody’s said.

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed (D) has called for another transportation vote in the city, but Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal (R) has said he is not interested in holding another referendum on road and transit funding.