Hopes for a dedicated and long-term source of transportation funding came to a seeming end in Missouri, as a public referendum to increase the state’s gas tax was voted down by a margin of 54% to 46%.
Leaders in both transportation and legislature were surprised by the vote, which saw one of the largest turnouts in state history.
Speaking with Roads & Bridges for its upcoming December issue feature Region Report, DOT Director Patrick McKenna said, “The turnout was tremendous, and the votes for the measure totaled approximately 1.1 million. Unfortunately, the case wasn’t made to the satisfaction of the majority.”
What was at stake was a gradual 10-cent per gallon increase from the present level of 17-cents per gallon, a figure set in 1996 and not altered since.
State Sen. Dave Schatz (R.-Sullivan) was quoted as saying, “I am sitting here kind of dumbfounded as to what we do next.” Schatz was one of the key craftsman of the measure, and as he is expected to take over as pro-tem Senate president this coming January, there is hope that a revenue increase could see new light in 2019.
At present the state has approximately $825 million in unfunded road and bridge needs.
For more on the state of Missouri’s infrastructure, please keep an eye out for the December issue of Roads and Bridges, which will also look at Oklahoma and Kansas.
