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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
$279
29
Oklahoma
$293
23
Kansas
$372
12
Arkansas
$263
32
Missouri
$246
37
Texas
$223
43
Rank*: 1 = Highest, 50 = Lowest.
Source: 1996 State Fact Finder, Congressional Quarterly Publications and U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Government Finances.
State and Local Highway
Percentage
Rank*
Regional Average
9.10%
18
Oklahoma
9.37%
15
Kansas
10.98%
7
Arkansas
9.57%
13
Missouri
8.52%
20
Texas
7.07%
36
Rank*: 1 = Highest, 50 = Lowest.
Source: 1996 State Fact Finder, Congressional Quarterly Publications and U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Government Finances.
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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