AS A LOCAL business owner, I am well aware of the need for infrastructure improvements to sustain our competitiveness in business and industry. One of the pieces of this infrastructure lies in the area of transportation.

We are being asked to vote for a TSPLOST on July 31, which will assist our community in sustaining our road condition, while also creating and improving roads and intersections within Rome and Floyd County.

It is without question that we need to widen Ga. 101 and Ga. 140; and we have waited for years to obtain a direct connector to I-75. These main projects are included with the passage of this TSPLOST. In addition, there is a 25 percent portion of discretionary funds that our local community leaders can direct toward road and transportation improvements within Rome and Floyd County.

This tax has an ending period attached to it, and local involvement was included in selecting the projects to complete. We can’t afford to neglect education or transportation which is why I support this TSPLOST and the improvements it will make to our community.

I sincerely hope that our citizens will consider the benefits of this transportation tax and realize that other options are not as effective toward accomplishing these goals. This is a tax that will improve roads, improve safety, relieve congestion and most importantly create jobs, while at the same time improving competitiveness and create economic development for our community.