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.”