On July 31, voters across Georgia will be asked to make an investment in the state's roads, highways, bridges and ports. In SW Georgia, where we all live, work and spend time in the community, there's more than $500 million dollars at stake in the investment for our local roads, bridges and highways. Citizens in each of the state's 12 regions, including Albany-Dougherty County, have already chosen projects that will be paid for by the TSPLOST.

Those regions who vote "Yes" will be able to get started right away on 10 years of improvements that will be paid for by a 1 percent increase in our sales tax. Regions who say "No" will get nothing, and will face the consequences of continued deterioration of their transportation assets.

Despite what you have heard and what some may have told you, the fact is, there is no practical Plan B. Until now, most of the money for transportation has come from Georgia's motor fuel tax, a tax collected per gallon sold. As cars have become more fuel-efficient and as people drive less, revenues collected from the gas tax have fallen and will continued to do so. That's the core reason why the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce have joined Chambers across the state in supporting TSPLOST as the only viable choice to improve our roads, increase jobs in our region and keep local control of projects that affect our daily lives.

I'm voting "Yes" on the July 31 TSPLOST. Please be sure to get all the facts regarding this referendum and help us to make an important investment in our future.

Chris Hardy, IOM President & CEO Albany Chamber of Commerce