Media Center

Read Bill Text

WASHINGTON D.C. - Today, Congressman David Scott (GA-13), introduced the Airport Revenue Clarity Act, a bill that will return $30 million in tax revenue to Clayton County and the Clayton County Public Schools (CCPS). The measure addresses rules created by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that prevents the county from collecting revenue from local general sales taxes on aviation fuel.

“Clayton County and its schools lose more than $30 million every single year because of this unfair sales tax loophole,” said Congressman David Scott.  “These are funds that need to be supporting our students, strengthening our classrooms, and ensuring our teachers have the money they need to help our students succeed. Our students deserve the full benefit of the tax revenue generated in their own community. I am working with both Democrats and Republicans to pass this legislation.”

"Our community has watched as revenue generated at the world’s busiest airport left our county while our schools and services stretched to do more with less,” said Clayton County Commissioner Tashé Allen. “Regaining the right to collect and invest those tax dollars where they belong isn’t just a policy fix, it affirms that Clayton County matters and ensures that revenue generated here is reinvested in our schools, infrastructure, and public services."

In 2014, the FAA created regulations restricting the use of revenues for local and state general sales tax on aviation fuel—requiring funds to be used only for capital or operating costs of local airports. Clayton County had levied general sales taxes long before the 2014 FAA rule. However, since the regulations’ implementation, the county has lost over $30 million in tax revenue annually, half of which is dedicated to Clayton County Public School (CCPS)—even as the county does not directly sponsor nor provide oversight of Hartsfield-Jackson. These restrictions have diverted significant funds away from the community, money that Clayton County voters approved, and local leaders allocated to improve public schools, transportation infrastructure, and other local essential services.

The Airport Revenue Clarity Act would:

• Exempt Clayton County, CCPS, and the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport from federal restrictions on the use of revenue collected through local sales taxes on aviation fuel.
• Eliminate outdated federal requirements that force grant applicants to submit duplicative written assurances regarding how revenue is used in order to qualify for airport development projects.

Full text of the bill can be accessed HERE.

###