The Mississippi Department of Transportation is considering requesting a possible increase of 5-cent per gallon to the state's gasoline tax to bolster the department's budget for new roads and existing road maintenance, reports WLOX. The new tax would be an addition to the state's current 18-cent tax.

"We do need additional sums of money to continue to provide safe highways," said Larry L. "Butch" Brown, MDOT's executive director to WLOX. "We have about an $8 billion backlog of infrastructure needs in the state of Mississippi."

Mississippi's current gasoline tax is among the lowest in the country, and was last raised more than 20 years ago, in 1987. Nevertheless, the state's administration opposes a tax increase of any kind.

"In these tough economic times, I am opposed to any further tax burden on the taxpayer," Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant said in a statement.

Brown disagrees with Bryant's assessment. "It's time for awareness," Brown told WLOX. "It's time to tell the story of the need for the system because we're going to wake up one day and have no money for new construction."

Previous Comments

ID

151905

Comment

I would generally suppot the idea of a gas tax increase dedicated to road improvements; however, the legislature has repeatedly diverted gas tax revenue for general fund obligations...so, I'm against the tax incerease. The idea of a "lock box" for revenue raised for specific purposes has been tried in MS more than once, and the legislature keeps violating its own restrictions.

Author

FrankMickens

Date

2009-09-15T09:20:32-06:00

ID

151906

Comment

Butch has had years to complain about the legislatures accounting practices. Why is his answer "higher taxes"?

Author

Ironghost

Date

2009-09-15T09:23:41-06:00