When they return to work next week, Kentucky lawmakers are expected to consider ways to stem a drop in state gas tax monies. Significant declines in the price per gallon at the pump have led to a loss of revenue to maintain and build roads.
Kentuckians for Better Transportation Director Juva Barber hopes legislators can remedy the problem. "That is a major concern for all modes of transportation,” said Barber. “Obviously, if you move freight here in the state of Kentucky, you need a very safe,dependable road network and we have to make sure we have funding for that road network to maintain it and improve it as needed."
Barber says KBT supports a proposal to lock in the gas tax rate at its current level. Former KBT Chair Richard Sutherland says that plan would work to secure $150 million. "That won't re-collect the 4.3 or 5 cents or so that we've already lost in the last 12 months,” Sutherland said. “It will just prevent us from losing another 5 cents on the gas tax."
Kentuckians for Better Transportation held its 37th annual conference last week in Lexington.