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Increased gas tax most popular way to improve road funds
Published Friday, September 18, 2009 at 05:41 PM
Deb Fischer, Dist 43
Members of the legislature's Transportation Committee Friday heard six Box Butte County residents discuss the importance of increased funding for roads during an interim study hearing in Alliance. The legislative committee is holding several hearings around the state to get public input on additional ways to fund the maintenance and construction of state roads because of declining gas tax revenues.

Those testifying at the Alliance Learning Center were supportive of a user taxes, and in particular, increasing the gas tax. Nebraska's gas tax is currently 26.4 cents per gallon, which is about a half-cent per gallon less than two years ago.

Committee Chair Senator Deb Fischer of Valentine says the lower gas tax and lower consumption has put the state in a crunch for road improvement funding.

Governor Heineman says doing something with the user fee, i.e gas tax, appears to be the bottom line. While in Scottsbluff Friday to speak to a regional rural development conference, Heineman says decisions need to be made to determine what the road priorities are in each region.



Fischer says the state is in a crisis situation.


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