House and Senate conference committee members are inching closer to a compromise on a transportation funding mechanism in the works for the past three years.

“We’re talking about variations on the same idea now, a regional option, and we’re not terribly far apart.” said state Sen. Preston Smith, R-Rome, who is one of the conferees.

The conference committee is working with House Bill 277, which passed the House last year, but was changed in the Senate. Instead of a statewide 1-cent sales tax devoted to transportation projects, however, the focus now is on regional sales taxes and projects.

Senate conferees met Monday to work on a proposal that would fix the Atlanta region as a district but allow other counties to form voluntary coalitions.

“Some of them have corridors in common or other projects that could be mutually beneficial,” Smith said.

If both chambers approve the bill within the remaining six days of the session, voters statewide would still have to agree to the concept before regional sales tax proposals could be placed on ballots.

The voluntary aspect of the measure is likely to appeal to more rural counties. Under the version backed by Gov. Sonny Perdue, the districts would follow regional commission lines — which, in Northwest Georgia, would mean forging a 15-county transportation plan.

“I think it would be more usable in our area if counties could choose to come together,” said state Rep. Barbara Massey Reece, D-Menlo. “My problem with the governor’s bill was that it was such a huge area the needs of the outlying counties get lost.”

State Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Cassville, spent some time in transportation committee meetings arguing the forced districting could even be unconstitutional.

“The more populated counties could swing the vote, so some smaller counties could end up being taxed without seeing any benefits,” he said.

State Rep. Rick Crawford, D-Cedartown, said that’s why he would have a hard time supporting a measure that didn’t include a way for counties to opt out of a district plan.

But anti-tax sentiments are running especially high in the legislature this session, and an opt-out provision might not be enough to ensure passage.

“I would have a difficult time right now voting for anything that might be a tax increase,” Crawford said.

Support for a statewide transportation tax and project package also still remains.

State Rep. Katie Dempsey, R-Rome, said the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce and many of her constituents are convinced a statewide funding approach is required to maintain Georgia’s economic potential.

“It’s hard to say what can happen between now and the end (of the session),” she said. “But that’s what most citizens who have contacted me are in favor of.”

Although House and Senate conference committee members have not yet held a joint meeting, Smith said he believes both sides are more open to compromise than they have been in previous years.

“Nothing’s a sure thing, but I think there’s a real effort on both sides to get to an agreement,” he said.

Click here to see the many versions of House Bill 277.