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Monday, October 15, 2018
On November 6, voters in the state of Missouri will be asked to consider Proposition D – a 2.5 cents per gallon motor fuel tax increase for four years beginning July 1, 2019. The bill will fund the Missouri State Highway Patrol, resulting in a freeing up of at least $288 million annually to the State Road Fund and $123 million annually to local governments for road construction and maintenance. Your Chamber Board of Directors voted unanimously to endorse this measure and consider it extremely important.
Missouri has not adjusted motor fuel tax since 1996 and currently ranks 49th in the nation, at 17 cents per gallon. Missouri is 46th in the nation in available revenue per mile. This has put our state in a very bad position related to its transportation infrastructure. Since 1996, vehicle miles traveled has increased by 25 million and the state highway system has grown by 6,200 miles, making it the nation’s 7th largest. And it should be noted MODOT has done more with less, being ranked 9th in cost-effectiveness.
Passing Prop D will result in safer roads and safer communities. It will allow local decisions on local priorities for local progress. The city of Cape should receive $596,778 annually after full implementation. Cape County should receive $576,141, and Jackson can expect $216,401. All of this benefit while the average motorist will pay an extra $5 per month.
Missouri has to maintain about 34,000 miles of state roads and more than 10,000 bridges, with nearly 1,000 of those in “poor” condition. It is time to get our transportation in better shape and make it the asset it should be. Please vote “yes” on Prop D.
