Taxes collected from the sales of outdoor recreation stores in Georgia will support existing outdoor recreation opportunities and create new ones across the state.
According to a report, the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Act (GOSA), approved by 83% of Georgia voters in 2018, allots 40% of state sales tax revenue from purchases at outdoor recreation stores to fund land conservation, trail improvements, and restoration.
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources encourages state agencies, local governments, and nonprofits to compete for funding annually. This year, almost 90 applicants hoped for about $28 million. This is 36% more than last year.
On Tuesday, Georgia’s lawmakers approved the 15 projects that will gain from the program. These include trail improvements within Sweetwater Creek State Park, Tucker’s Johns Homestead Park improvements, and a new visitor center at Vogel State Park.
On Tuesday, lawmakers from the state have approved 15 projects that will reap the program’s benefits. These include trail improvements within Sweetwater Creek State Park, improvements to Tucker’s Johns Homestead Park, and a new visitor center at Vogel State Park.
Based on sales tax figures compiled by Axios, Georgia collected $73 million in tax revenue in the past fiscal year. This is a 42% increase from the prior year. Based on state revenue calculations, Georgia appears to be close to meeting or exceeding those figures.
GOSA keeps state officials and local governments in the loop about how much funding is available, making it easier to plan projects and raise matching cash, as per Katherine Moore, the president of the Georgia Conservancy.
Moreover, the program is meant to “supplement, not supplant” state funding to conserve, protect, and enhance the state’s outdoors, Moore added.
This initiative encourages community engagement, motivating Georgians to conserve and enhance their natural surroundings beyond funding state parks.