Posted 7:28 pm Friday, October 19, 2007
Proposition 12 Provides Needed Funds For Roads
The reality driving highway funding initiatives in Texas is both clear and stark: There's little money for state highway repairs, and less for new construction.
That's why we encourage a "yes" vote on Proposition 12 on the Nov. 6 constitutional amendments ballot. It will help fund safer roads in Texas by allowing issuance of up to $5 billion in general obligation bonds.
"It seems pretty obvious Texas is facing several challenges, one of which is transportation," Texas Transportation Commissioner Ned Holmes told the Tyler Paper's editorial board recently.
As a public official, he's not allowed to advocate the amendment's passage, but he visited Tyler to "lay out the facts," he said.
Holmes described the Texas Department of Transportation's current economic state as "the perfect storm" of funds versus needs.
"We have a population that continues to grow, and it is growing at a rapid rate. Then we have this phenomenon of increasing costs for labor and materials," he said.
Holmes said construction costs are rising by about 9 percent per year, while the Legislature has increased TxDOT's budget by an average of 2 percent.
The problem is exacerbated by the fact that the state motor fuel tax, which is a major source of revenue for Texas roads, has remained unchanged, at 20 cents, since 1991. With a nickel of that tax going to education and a portion going to other purposes, the tax yields the state about $2.1 billion annually, Holmes said.
It's important for Texas to find an alternative source of funding before all new construction projects have to be put on hold.
"A significant amount (of the state's road budget) will soon have to go into maintenance of existing roads, while a decreasing percentage will be put into new construction," Holmes warned.
He notes that $5 billion in bonds will not solve the state's funding problem completely, but rather provide about $1 billion per year for the most needed projects.
Northeast Texas Regional Mobility Authority Chairman Jeff Austin III, said he is encouraging voters to approve the bond.
"Locally, we depend on money from the state for our roads. The state depends on Washington, and Washington is running out of funds. We have to look for alternative funding, and we need it today," Austin said.
The Tyler Paper also recommends a "yes" vote on the following constitutional amendments:
Proposition 3: Capping residential appraisal increases at 10 percent in any given year.
Proposition 5: Tax abatement for downtown development in small towns.
Proposition 6: Tax exemption for one motor vehicle per owner, if used partially for work.
Proposition 7: Selling land taken under eminent domain back to the former owner at the same price.
Proposition 8: Tightening restrictions on home equity loans.
Proposition 9: Property tax exemption for certain disabled veterans.
Proposition 10: Abolishing the office of inspector of hides and animals.
Proposition 11: Record votes in the Legislature on final passage, Internet access to votes.
Proposition 13: Denial of bail to someone who violates court orders in felonies or family violence cases.
Proposition 14: Allows a judge who reaches mandatory retirement age to finish out the remainder of their current term.
That's why we encourage a "yes" vote on Proposition 12 on the Nov. 6 constitutional amendments ballot. It will help fund safer roads in Texas by allowing issuance of up to $5 billion in general obligation bonds.
"It seems pretty obvious Texas is facing several challenges, one of which is transportation," Texas Transportation Commissioner Ned Holmes told the Tyler Paper's editorial board recently.
As a public official, he's not allowed to advocate the amendment's passage, but he visited Tyler to "lay out the facts," he said.
Holmes described the Texas Department of Transportation's current economic state as "the perfect storm" of funds versus needs.
"We have a population that continues to grow, and it is growing at a rapid rate. Then we have this phenomenon of increasing costs for labor and materials," he said.
Holmes said construction costs are rising by about 9 percent per year, while the Legislature has increased TxDOT's budget by an average of 2 percent.
The problem is exacerbated by the fact that the state motor fuel tax, which is a major source of revenue for Texas roads, has remained unchanged, at 20 cents, since 1991. With a nickel of that tax going to education and a portion going to other purposes, the tax yields the state about $2.1 billion annually, Holmes said.
It's important for Texas to find an alternative source of funding before all new construction projects have to be put on hold.
"A significant amount (of the state's road budget) will soon have to go into maintenance of existing roads, while a decreasing percentage will be put into new construction," Holmes warned.
He notes that $5 billion in bonds will not solve the state's funding problem completely, but rather provide about $1 billion per year for the most needed projects.
Northeast Texas Regional Mobility Authority Chairman Jeff Austin III, said he is encouraging voters to approve the bond.
"Locally, we depend on money from the state for our roads. The state depends on Washington, and Washington is running out of funds. We have to look for alternative funding, and we need it today," Austin said.
The Tyler Paper also recommends a "yes" vote on the following constitutional amendments:
