Atlanta mayor calls for 2022 ballot questions on $700M infrastructure package

A poll worker sorts through voting material at Park Tavern in Atlanta on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. (John Spink / John.Spink@ajc.com)

Credit: JOHN SPINK / AJC

Credit: JOHN SPINK / AJC

A poll worker sorts through voting material at Park Tavern in Atlanta on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. (John Spink / John.Spink@ajc.com)

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms wants Atlanta residents to go to the polls next May to vote on two infrastructure and transportation packages totaling $700 million.

A $400 million revenue bond, if approved by voters, would fund improvements to public safety facilities, parks and recreation spaces, transportation infrastructure, and the arts, according to the mayor’s office, which did not provide a more specific list of projects that the money would be used for. The investments would not require a hike in taxes, Bottoms’ office said.

The administration is also calling for the renewal of the T-SPLOST sales tax voters first approved in 2016. Revenue from that sales tax — an additional 4 cents on a $10 purchase — is estimated to fund $300 million in transportation improvements including sidewalks, safe streets and bridges and traffic calming.

Legislation setting the stage for the referendums was introduced at this week’s City Council meeting.

A $4 million bond was also introduced to City Council to fund renovations and improvements to fire stations and police precincts.

The council will have to approve Bottoms’ plan before it will go to voters.