For Immediate
Release: September 14, 2005
Republicans Unveil New Road Funding Plan
Republican state lawmakers today unveiled a plan
that will provide nearly $300 million in new road funding in the
next five years, more than double the amount that would have been
provided by a fuel tax increase rejected by voters Tuesday.
“Yesterday, the people said: Not one more dime of my money;
fix Oklahoma’s roads with the dollars you already take from
us,” said House Speaker Todd
Hiett, R-Kellyville. “We all agree that Oklahoma’s
roads are in bad shape. But the voters expect us to live within
our means.”
A proposed fuel tax increase of 5 cents per gallon of gasoline
was rejected by voters on Tuesday by a margin of 13-87 percent.
In response to the will of the people, Republican legislators
said the leadership of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and
Senate Republicans will now seek a nearly $300-million increase
for road maintenance and repair.
“Senate Democrats have been in charge for nearly 100 years,
and they have ignored our state’s transportation needs for
decades,” stated Senate Republican Leader Glenn
Coffee, R-Oklahoma City. “Only now, with a Republican
majority in the House and with a record number of Republicans
in the Senate, have roads and bridges finally become a priority
at the Oklahoma State Capitol. The plan we are unveiling today
confirms the Republican commitment to improving our roads and
bridges – without a tax increase.”
The new money will come on top of an extra $111.8 million provided
for road maintenance and bridge repair during the 2005 legislative
session.
Legislation approved this year committed $170 million in new road
funding over the next several years with $17.5 million of that
commitment provided immediately.
State Rep. Mark
Liotta, who chairs the appropriation subcommittee with oversight
of transportation, said the new Republican plan will build on
this year’s successes. Under the new proposal, the new road
funding secured last session of $35 million annually will be increased
to $50 million per year.
The total amount of new road money guaranteed over the next several
years would increase from $170 million to at least $200 million.
Under the more aggressive Republican plan, the 2005 appropriation
for roads will double in five years.
The Republican plan also calls for using $100 million in one-time
surplus revenue for emergency bridge
repair.
“This appropriation will take care of more than 50 of the
worst of the worst bridges statewide,” said Liotta, R-Tulsa.
“We will direct ODOT to identify and focus on the bridges
carrying the most traffic that have the lowest safety ranking.”
The Republican plan also includes a separate plank to pay for
repair of county roads and bridges. The fuel tax rejected by the
voters would have given 10 percent of new money to counties, but
the Republican plan will actually provide greater financial aid
to cash-strapped county governments.
Currently, county governments receive 15 percent of revenue generated
by motor vehicle registration fees. Under the Republican plan,
the counties’ share would double to 30 percent, providing
an extra $85 million to $100 million per year.
The additional money would come from the state’s general
revenue fund and would not require cuts in any other programs.
State Rep. Jim
Newport, R-Ponca City, said the additional county road funding
will benefit public school safety.
“Our children cross county roads and bridges every day on
the school bus,” Newport said.
“Unfortunately, some of the worst bridges in Oklahoma are
county bridges and we have to address this safety issue immediately.”
The final plank of the Republican plan would implement management
reforms at the Oklahoma Department
of Transportation. Rep. Liotta has begun meeting with leaders
of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to identify statutory
reforms that would lead to cost savings and increase efficiency.
“Roads and bridges have been placed at the bottom of the
Legislature’s priority list for far too long. Our Republican
plan improves on the record commitment to transportation, and
makes roads and bridges a priority in the state budget for years
to come,” said Sen. David
Myers, R-Ponca City.
“The people of Oklahoma have spoken, and they have said
they send enough tax dollars to Oklahoma City. The people want
the Legislature to prioritize spending – and to start spending
their money more wisely. Our plan wisely makes roads and bridges
a priority for the first time in recent memory,” said Sen.
Owen
Laughlin, R-Woodward.
“Before the 2005 legislative session, a typical year for
ODOT gave them a $200 million budget,” Liotta said. “We
have already begun the process of improving their funding and
this plan more than doubles the amount of money going to road
maintenance in Oklahoma.”
