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News Brief

Sept. 26, 2018Maryville, MO |  By: John Coffey

Proposition D to increase fuel tax after 22 years

Missouri voters in November will decide on Proposition D...a proposal to increase the state gas tax by ten cents a gallon for the improvement of Missouri's roads and bridges and help fund the Missouri Highway Patrol. Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe recently made a stop in Maryville campaigning for the proposal. Kehoe says the fuel tax increase would be implemented gradually.

"...would propose a 2.5 cent a year for 4 years, ultimately a 10 cent total on gas and diesel.  That would go into our state road fund, which is a constitutionally protected fund that can only be used for literally 2 things.  One is funding the highway patrol and one is building roads and bridges.  We would hope that citizens will take a look at it.  It's been 22 years since MODOT has had an increase in the fuel tax.  I think most people understand that 22 years is a long time without an increase in budget.  This is something we need.  Taking our roads and bridges safer, making our community safer."

Kehoe says Proposition D would be a big boost to improving rural roads and bridges such as those in northwest Missouri.

"Rural Missouri has problems with those farm-to-market roads because those are the ones that get traveled the least, but often are the most important in communities.  Proposition D will certainly help address that.  As a matter of fact, in the first 5 years of the plan, it'll help address over 8200 miles of letter-route repaving.  Then when you look at the 10-year plan, it's 46,000 miles in the first 10 years of the paved route.  Now that's interstates, state roads, and letter routes.  But certainly it will help address our letter route and bridge issues."

Motorists currently pay a 17 cents a gallon fuel tax in Missouri.  Again, the Proposition D fuel tax increase proposal will be on the November ballot.