1976-10-20 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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• TEXAS HIGHWAY FUNDING CRISIS Whereas, citizens of Texas are concerned that state and fedora] highway con- struction and maintenance funds have remained for several years at an inade- yuate ,,nd declining level while costs have more than doubled since 1967, and Wltc're.is, the current highway funding crisis has resulted in a drastic reduction in the pace of improving the state highway system, and Whereas, there is a backlog of $11 billion in highway improvement projects and anticipated revenues for construction during the next 20 years of only $1.9 billion, and Whereas, all existing revenue will he needed by 1980 just to maintain the state highwtiv system, with nn funds available for upgrading obsolete roads and bridges or for new construction, and Whereas, the present inadequate funding level will adversely. affect the state's economy, will result in increased unemployment, will contribute to continued death and destruction on Texas highways at a rate higher than the national average, and will result in higher costs for the movement of goods and people, and '+~ereas, Governor Dolph Briscoe has recommended action to alleviate the Texas highway funding crisis by dedicating three-fourths of the automobile sales tax and the general sales tax on tires, tubes, automobile parts and accessories to the state highway fund, supplementing Department of Public Safety operating • funds with general revenue appropriations, and utilizing Federal revenue sharing funds for emergency road and bridge capitol improvements, and whereas, these recommendations would produce $825 million in badly needed revenue in the next biennium and $7.1 billion in the next 20 years, how therefore be it resolved, that these recommendations be endorsed and that ^~~embers of the 65th 'Texas Legislature convening in January, 1977, be urged to enact i;~plementing legislation to meet the essential highway transportation needs of the people of 'texas.