Gas tax increase to be on the November ballot in Missouri

(KY3)
Published: May. 24, 2018 at 6:40 PM CDT
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Missouri voters will decide in November if they want to raise the gas tax to help maintain the state highway system.

They rejected a higher fuel tax four years ago.

That proposed gas tax would add ten cents to gas prices across the board all over Missouri.

And that extra revenue would go towards repairing the Show-Me state's roads and bridges.

If the tax is passed, that could mean almost 300 million dollars in extra revenue for the more than 33 thousand roads and 10 thousand bridges in Missouri.

"Springfield could use it, Greene County, everywhere throughout the county and what not." said David Smart, a driver.

"The way I see it, gas is already too high man. I think they are going to work on the roads regardless." said Trevor Smiff, a driver.

A state report from January found that many Missouri roads were built in the 1950's.

And in 2016 the revenue raised for the Missouri highway system was just under 2.5 billion dollars, putting Missouri 47th in the nation in terms of revenue raised per mile.

"They say they are going to fix the roads and when they fix one road they think they have completed something amazing. When how many other roads are we paying taxes to get fixed that aren't getting fixed. I will not vote for it." said Dani Baughman, a driver.

"I think that good roads are important. I mean obviously have kids so being able to drive safely is a good thing. And ten cents isn't really that much." said Lorelei Barry, a driver.

The current gas tax is at 17 cents per gallon. That is the fourth lowest among motor fuel taxes in the nation, and it was last raised in 1996.

"When gas prices drop it wouldn't be that bad, when they higher up, yeah it would be a little bit. As long as those dollars are going to the roads, I think everything will good." said Smart.

"I think they will work on the roads regardless so it's better to have more money in my pocket man." said Smiff.

Missouri has approximately 825 million dollars in unfunded transportation needs per year, and MODOT says the 10 cent gas tax would handle about a quarter of those needs.