WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Georgia lawmakers hit another roadblock to snag NASCAR Hall of Fame

Georgia lawmakers hit another roadblock to snag NASCAR Hall of Fame

(Atlanta-AP) March 1, 2006 - Georgia lawmakers hoping to snare millions of dollars in public money to attract the NASCAR Hall of Fame to Atlanta have hit another roadblock.

Legislators had two plans to increase Georgia's existing $92 million bid this week.

One plan would offer $20 million from state sales taxes if the Hall of Fame is built in Atlanta. The other would divert about $22 million in surplus money from Atlanta's rental car tax to the NASCAR project.

It's the second proposal that has caused problems. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports Wednesday that officials already have committed the $22 million to help the city's homeless.

Lawmakers contend Atlanta did not have the authority to spend the rental car taxes, but city officials committed the money in January to Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin's campaign to end homelessness.

Atlanta had hoped to sweeten its bid to compete with the $137.5 million bid proposed by Charlotte, North Carolina.

NASCAR officials said this week there has been no decision about where it plans to build its first Hall of Fame despite a published report that says Charlotte is the likely choice.

Posted 8:25am by Bryce Mursch