Lawmakers on the House Transportation committee have made substantial changes to Governor Dennis Daugaard’s road and bridge funding proposal. The legislative committee discussed House Bill 1131 at length but deferred action on the bill until next week.
The Governor’s highway funding proposal initially asked for just over 50 million dollars per year for roads and bridges. The measure increased the gas tax by 2 cents per year and increased the motor vehicle excise tax by 1%. It also increased license plate fees by 10%.
Senator Mike Vehle chaired the Highway Needs and Financing committee which studied the state’s roads last summer. Vehle says there are roads and highways that need work in every corner of the state. He also says there are hundreds of rural bridges in need of repair.
"Twenty-eight percent of the county bridges are structurally deficient. And another 3% are functionally obsolete. So when you’re driving in the country, just think about this when you’re out driving, maybe you’re going pheasant hunting every third bridge you go across is structurally deficient or functionally obsolete," says Vehle.
The House Transportation committee passed several amendments to House bill 1131. The bill now provides for an ongoing increase of 1 to 3 dollars in license plate fees, depending on the weight and type of vehicle. This is on top of the Governor’s initial 10% increase. It also allows local counties to assess wheel taxes on 12 wheels instead of just 4. Lastly, the measure requires electric and hybrid vehicles to pay license registration fees. Representative Dick Werner of Huron says this plan provides around 2 million dollars in funding for local governments.
"Local government is county, townships, and municipalities. And 90% of our roads are currently in that jurisdiction. Now I understand the majority of the traffic is not on these roads but a mile that needs to be bladed for snow removal, etc., still costs money," says Werner.
The House Transportation committee also put an end date of June 2030 to the Governor’s annual gas tax increase.
The committee deferred voting on the measure and will continue discussion of House Bill 1131 next Thursday.