Timely > Topic
As Dec. 1 deadline looms, Blue Ribbon highway funding proposal has yet to congeal
ByDeborah Horn
With little fanfare or the usual in-depth discussions, the 19-member Arkansas Blue Ribbon Committee on Highway Finance met Wednesday, Aug. 18, at the Arkansas State Capitol. However, committee members left with about 80 pages, many printed on both sides, of charts, statistics and research for future study.
Te material was in response to the requests
of several committee members, and Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman State Sen. John Paul Capps of Searcy recommended discussing the contents at a later date, after members had a chance to read it.
Blue Ribbon Committee member and Madison County Judge Wes Fowler (center) studies a sheet of cost statistics during the August committee meeting in Little Rock. The group’s final recommendations on funding for significant highway maintenance and construction are due to be submitted to the Arkansas Legislature by Dec. 1.
Committee Chairman Sen. John Paul Capps suggested that the group meet more than once in November as they head toward the deadline.
Te requested research material included:
State motor vehicle license fees; Streamlined sales tax projections 2010-25; County Aid Road Program information, including discussion as to whether the counties are at the maximum 3 mills; Legal brief on sales tax and/or bond issue; Summary information on regional mobility authorities; Current county government tax levies; County sales and use tax; Counties and/ or cities that have special language defining the (tax) distribution formula; Indexing the Gas and Diesel Fuel Tax; and New excise tax on wholesale price of motor fuels. In addition to the packet of research material,
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Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department Director Dan Flowers explained to committee members his department’s State Aid Program, which provides the state’s 75 counties with about $20 million each year in funding grants. Te money requires matching funds, and submitted projects must meet certain requirements. It is a successful program, Flowers said. At the Blue Ribbon Committee’s June meeting, members discussed a special gas sales tax to be used for maintenance and preservation only, but that would only be passed by the General Assembly on the contingency that the public pass a bond issue to be used for road construction. Without passage of the bond by the public, the tax would sunset. Mark McBryde of Little Rock said he thought that aspect would be a big selling point with voters. In response to the June discussion and the question of its legality, Arkansas Legislative
Attorney Janelle Evyan explained to the committee that her research had found no limitations on a tax hike/bond proposal. Te next Blue Ribbon Committee meeting
will be Wednesday, Oct. 20 at 1:30 p.m. at the Arkansas State Capitol. Capps also suggested the committee meet more than once in November because their final recommendations to the Arkansas State Legislature are due Dec. 1. He also suggested bringing back or creating two new subcommittees to handle the mountain of information the Blue Ribbon Committee needed to process before its final recommendations were completed. Committee member David Malone of
Fayetteville said he was willing to spend a couple of days working on it. Te Blue Ribbon Committee decided to meet the afternoon of Tuesday, Nov. 16, and the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 17.
COUNTY LINES, FALL 2010
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