HB0705 Troupe, Charles Quincy

P R E F I L E D

HB 705 -- Regional and County Transportation Authorities

This bill gives the governing body of any county in this state not served by an interstate transportation authority the power to form a county transportation authority, or enter into an agreement with one or more counties to create a regional transportation authority.

To create a regional or county transportation authority, 50% of the registered voters from each county within the proposed district must file a petition requesting such. The petition must be filed with the circuit court of any county within the proposed district and, if certified by the court, will be put on the ballot for voter approval. The authority can be established if a majority of the qualified voters voting on the question in each county in which the question is submitted vote to approve such authority.

A regional transportation authority will consist of one member from each county within the region, and in addition one or two members, as the case may be, appointed by the governing bodies acting collectively, to increase the membership of the authority to the next highest odd number. No more than one member appointed by the governing bodies collectively can be from the same county. All members will serve for a 5 year term.

A county transportation authority will consist of 5 members appointed by the county. Such members will serve for 5 year staggered terms and elect from its numbers a chairman and a vice chairman and appoint any officers or employees needed to carry out it duties.

The bill spells out the various powers of a regional or county transportation authority, including the power to impose a property tax in an amount not to exceed the annual rate of 15 cents per $100 assessed valuation on all taxable property within the counties within the authority for general public transportation services. This property tax for public transportation will also be subject to voter approval.