SB 1217 - Under this act, the sales and use tax is increased by an additional one percent. The provision of law authorizing the sales and use tax increase expires on December 31, 2018. The revenue derived from the one percent increase shall be used for the purposes of assisting in the reconstruction, rebuilding, construction, and conversion of Interstate 70 and Interstate 44 into an eight-lane interstate system. The act provides that the one percent sales tax shall be reduced in political subdivisions where a TDD sales tax has been imposed to finance highway projects that are intended to be merged into the state highway system. The sales tax in those areas shall be the difference between the one percent sales tax and the amount of the TDD sales tax.
The act establishes a fund known as the "State Transportation Interstate Fund" into which the proceeds of the sales and use tax will be deposited. The state transportation interstate fund shall, upon appropriation, be used for the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, and conversion of Interstate 44 and Interstate 70 into an eight-lane interstate system. Each interstate system shall be comprised of eight lanes, with four lanes designated for motor vehicle traffic proceeding in the same direction. Four lanes of each interstate system shall be utilized as dedicated commercial motor vehicle lanes in which commercial truck traffic is separated from non-commercial motor vehicle traffic. Commercial motor vehicles shall be confined to the two inside lanes in each direction. Under the act, the state highways and transportation commission is authorized to enter into design-build contracts in order to complete the interstate highway projects. Any moneys remaining in the state transportation interstate fund after June 30, 2019, shall be transferred to the state road fund.
This act is similar to SB 310 (2007).
STEPHEN WITTE