Transit bill detours millions to roads
HB112 calls for a percentage of sales tax revenues to be deposited into a transportation fund each year. It's money that could otherwise go toward higher education, health and human services or public safety, which also are funded by sales tax collections.
While a fiscal note had yet to be attached to the bill by Friday, a similar bill run last year called for an average of $227 million each year over the next 10 years to be put into transportation.
That bill failed in the Senate after some last-ditch delay efforts by Democrats.
Sponsoring Rep. Becky Lockhart, R-Provo, could not be reached for comment Friday about HB112. Discussions with other lawmakers showed no consensus on the merits of the bill. Rep. Dave Ure, R-Kamas said he didn't want to "tie the hands" of future lawmakers or the governor by forcing them to automatically appropriate money.
Sen. Sheldon Killpack, R-Syracuse, has said in previous interviews that Lockhart's bill is one way to fund a $16.5 billion deficit for transportation projects over the next 25 years.
Ure says he is "eight or nine votes" away from having a majority of House Republicans support a proposal to give transportation $150 million this year in ongoing funds. The challenge, he said, is making sure that money isn't "borrowed" from transportation during lean budget years.
If he can find a way to guarantee the money stays in transportation, he's got the votes, said Ure.
The House Republican caucus has taken a position to support about $200 million in one-time funding for transportation. House leadership does not support the governor's bonding proposal, according to Speaker Greg Curtis, R-Sandy.
Sen. Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City, said the Senate has yet to reach a consensus on transportation funding. Today's discussion about funding and Lockhart's bill could prove interesting if the committee decides to take a position on how much to give toward roads and construction.
Last year, the transportation appropriations subcommittee put an extra $95 million in its base budget for transportation — much to the surprise of the executive appropriations committee. The executive committee eventually approved $70 million more for transportation.
Several influential outside groups support more funding for transportation. The Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce is calling for more ongoing money to go into transportation. Lockhart's bill is one way to meet transportation needs, said Lane Beattie, former legislator and chamber president.
You can be the first to comment on this story.