Legislature struggles to find ways to better allocate transportation spending
Senator John Carona (R-Dallas) has filed legislation this session to raise the statewide gas tax and create additional fees" for people living in certain areas of Texas. Senate Bill 855 a proposal Carona & Rep. Vicki Truitt (R-Keller her companion bill is HB 9) hope to reduce traffic congestion throughout the state specifically in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. But so far the statewide impact has been to cause conservative eyes to roll.
The legislation raises the gas tax statewide and creates additional fees for people living in the Metroplex. While most people agree that transportation funding and traffic congestion are issues that need to be addressed there is concern about whether or not this is the right way to go about doing it.
SB 855 gives cities and counties the option of imposing a local gas tax that could begin as high as $0.10 per gallon and could be raised each year to coincide with highway inflation. Additionally it charges a $250 fee to people moving from outside the state to the Metroplex for roadway impact" and it increases the vehicle registration vehicle emissions and drivers license fees up to two times the current rates.
Cities and counties are strong proponents of the bill arguing it is necessary and that it puts the decision in the hands of its citizens. In reality this bill allows cities and counties to levy taxes to control their own transportation decisions. While many question the effectiveness of the Department of Transportation transferring tax levying authority to cities and counties for roads sets a dangerous precedent for taxpayers and road users across the state. You could see your price for gas increase 10 cents immediately upon entering the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex with no input from state leaders.
Yesterday SB 855 passed the Senate in a 22 to 9 vote with almost as many Democrats voting for it as Republicans. Its outcome in the House is not as clear as it will be hard to get the support of members on such a controversial and potentially harmful bill.
The Texas Public Policy Foundation and Texans for Economic Prosperity have adamantly opposed the legislation. They argue that it is wrong to place additional financial burdens on already struggling Texans. And although our economy has far outpaced others in the nation it has been through fiscal restraint and our pro-business policies that the state has gotten here.
In testimony to the Senate Transportation and Homeland Security Committee the Texas Public Policy Foundation cited economist Dr. Arthur Laffers findings that states that pursue pro-growth economic policies low taxes appropriate regulations and disciplined spending experience higher income and population growth lower unemployment and rising housing values."
The Texas Legislature has undoubtedly achieved these ends over the past six years. Unemployment has risen one percent in the past year and the Comptroller estimates that number could continue to increase throughout the year.
Thus far a reasonable alternative has not been proposed to affect the growing transportation issues in the Metroplex. However cities and counties can implement more fiscally conservative practices to try to make up for money they think can only be levied through taxpayers. Furthermore as TxDOT continues through the Sunset review the Legislature needs to find ways to better allocate spending.
Currently legislators redirect more than $1 billion in transportation funding for other purposes. This practice must be stopped so the state can do a better job of adequately funding transportation infrastructure to keep up with the growing traffic problems in Texas.
