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Oklahoma Highway Spending in Perspective
Key Points
- State and local
government in Oklahoma spends 36% more of its budget on
highways than the national average;
- State and local
government in Oklahoma spends 3% more of its budget on
highways than the regional average;
- 9.37% of state and local
government spending in Oklahoma goes to highways.
Nationally, only 6.86% percent of spending is devoted to
highways;
- Oklahomans contribute
12% more tax dollars per capita to building and
maintaining our highways than does the average
American;
- Oklahomans contribute 5%
more tax dollars per capita to building and maintaining
highways than the regional average;
- Oklahomans spend $293
per capita on highways each year. Nationally, Americans
spend $261 per capita on highways.
State and Local Highway
Spending Per Capita
Rank*
|
Regional
Average
|
29
|
|
Oklahoma
|
23
|
|
Kansas
|
12
|
|
Arkansas
|
32
|
|
Missouri
|
37
|
|
Texas
|
43
|
Source: 1996 State Fact
Finder, Congressional Quarterly Publications and
U.S. Dept. of Commerce,
Government Finances
Rank*: 1=Highest,
50=Lowest
State and Local Highway
Spending as a Percentage of Total Spending
Rank*
|
Regional
Average
|
18
|
|
Kansas
|
7
|
|
Arkansas
|
13
|
|
Oklahoma
|
15
|
|
Missouri
|
20
|
|
Texas
|
36
|
Source: 1996 State Fact
Finder, Congressional Quarterly Publications and
U.S. Dept. of Commerce,
Government Finances
Rank*: 1=Highest,
50=Lowest
Note: Western states tend to have relatively
higher rates of spending on highways because of their larger geographic
size. Mountain states often have increased road costs due to the expense
of construction and maintenance in difficult terrain. Many western states
are also more sparsely populated tending to drive up costs on a per
capita basis.
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