A last-minute appeal for reasonable gas-tax hike

It’s now the 11th hour for Gov. Mike DeWine’s reasonable and necessary 18-cent-a-gallon increase in the tax on gas and diesel, but from all indications, state lawmakers will approve a lesser amount.

Such a move would be a mistake in light of Ohio’s ever-growing demand for the construction, reconstruction, maintenance and repair of highways and bridges.

The House and Senate are expected to vote Friday on a conference committee report that resolves differences in each chamber’s version of the wide-ranging transportation bill.

On the key issue of the gas-tax increase, the Republican-controlled House refused to go along with Republican Gov. DeWine, who has been in office since January, and opted for a boost of 10.7 cents a gallon on gas and 20 cents on diesel.

The GOP-controlled Senate wandered even further away from the governor and settled for 6 cents for both fuel and diesel.

By any reckoning, neither the Senate nor House proposals would generate enough money to address all the urgent transportation challenges confronting Ohio and undermining the state’s economic growth.

The Ohio Municipal League, a non-profit corporation created in the 1950s by city and village officials who saw the need for a statewide association to serve the interests of Ohio municipal governments, weighed in on the transportation bill and issued this statement:

“The league urges the leadership in the House and the Senate to reinstate the governor’s proposed 18-cent gas tax increase. Each cent of the gas tax increase brings the state and local governments closer to being able to repair potholes in roads, reinforce dangerous bridges and invest in new and necessary infrastructure projects.

“The league encourages our members to reach out to their legislative delegation in both the Senate and the House and voice their support for the 18-cent gas tax.”

Deadline for passage

The appeal may be too late given the Sunday deadline for passage of the transportation bill, but there’s still time for residents, especially in regions like the Mahoning Valley, to talk to local state legislators.

The bottom line is that there are two aspects to the state’s infrastructure program: repairs and maintenance; new projects.

The 18 cents proposed by Gov. De-Wine is designed to address Ohio’s current and future demands. The tax increase would generate enough money not only to pay for state projects, but would provide local governments with urgently needed funds to address the growing concerns of taxpayers.

With the end of winter, we are beginning to see the extent of the disrepair of our roads and bridges.

Major thoroughfares are obstacle courses that put drivers at risk and take a huge toll on vehicles. Complaints about flat tires and damaged rims are commonplace.

Local government officials, who are on the front-lines of residents’ complaints, cannot be blamed when funds are tight and the state and federal governments are less than generous with public dollars.

As we pointed out last week, under the governor’s plan, the first year of the gas-tax increase would generate $1.2 billion, which would be split between the Ohio Department of Transportation and local governments.

In fiscal 2020, ODOT would provide $750 million in additional funding to pave roads, fix guardrails, fill potholes, clear snow and ice, maintain bridges and improve safety.

To find out what your local government and other transportation-related entities would receive go to ODOT’s website.

Most people agree there is a backlog of work that must be tackled to upgrade Ohio’s transportation system. The disagreement over how much money is needed has become a point of contention. We have concluded that the justification put forth by Gov. DeWine, ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks and other administration officials is more compelling than the others because of what would be accomplished with the new revenue.

Here are a few questions for area residents: How important are the public transit systems to your communities? How important is a new interchange on Interstate 80 at state Route 304? How important is completing the southern portion of the state Route 82 beltway? And, how important is completing the widening of Western Reserve Road from Market Street to Interstate 680?

If they are important to you, then call the Valley’s state legislators.

Lawmakers should throw political caution to the wind and act boldly.