INDIANAPOLIS – The pot of money for Indiana roads and bridges has grown from $1.5 billion in 2001 to $2 billion in 2015, a key infrastructure task force heard Thursday.
The problem is the money hasn’t kept pace with inflation – meaning it doesn’t buy as much asphalt as it used to.
The Legislative Services Agency also said Indiana had the second-lowest annual spending per capita spending on transportation projections of the neighboring states between 2012 and 2015.
The task force of legislators and stakeholders is charged with honing a long-term funding proposal for state highways and bridges. But on its third meeting there were still no forthright discussions on the solutions.
Co-chair Rep. Tim Brown, R-Crawfordsville, at least mentioned the possibility of a “revenue-raising proposal” – increasing the state gas tax that hasn’t been raised in more than a decade.
“Fair enough. Someone has to say it eventually,” said co-chair Sen. Luke Kenley, R-Noblesville.
But Kenley said the committee is trying to juggle the upcoming election and “it’s a little hazy in our minds” how to get to a final report with specific recommendations for the 2017 General Assembly.
Thursday’s presentation included information on all revenue sources for roads –local, state and federal. The primary sources are state and federal fuel taxes, BMV fees and local wheel taxes.