Debating Our State's Fuel Tax

This measure will increase the current 17.3 cents per gallon tax on motor fuels by 3.5 cents per gallon for diesel and 1.5 cents per gallon for gas. I believe the tax increase should be changed to either be one cent or two cents per gallon. Missouri must match $100 million in order to receive the $400 million in matched federal funding by Fiscal Year 2017.

It is well known that large freight trucks are causing the largest amount of damage to Missouri’s transportation infrastructure due to the weight, size and the trucks increased usage of the roads and highways. However, we fail to recognize that these trucks pay more than four times gas tax per mile than other drivers.

Sadly, our state ranks 46th nationally in revenue received per mile, and has one of the largest highway systems in the nation per mile, yet also has the lowest fuel taxes in the country. We are one of the top five states in the number of bridges. Missouri has the seventh largest highway system in the country. Our state has 10,371 bridges, 33,890 miles of highways and 53 major river bridges, most of which are utilized by both large trucks and smaller passenger vehicles. Missouri’s roads are vital in carrying goods across the state.

I hear a lot of derogatory remarks about our transportation workers, but what everyone needs to think about and understand, is that these are the same workers who are on call 24/7. These are the employees out at midnight in freezing temperatures making sure our roads are safe for our commute to work and getting our children to school. These are the same workers who risk their lives every day working on the roads and highways that we travel every day.  There are more highway department workers killed in work related accidents than employees within the Highway Patrol.

This bill is far from becoming law. There will be much more debate and discussion during the remaining two weeks of session.