ST. PAUL – On Friday, House Republicans called on Gov. Mark Dayton to fund roads and bridges without a gas tax increase. Dayton and his staff are expected to prepare his first transportation offer this weekend and announce it Monday morning.
This comes on the heels of House Republicans offering a compromise transportation proposal Wednesday based off their 10-year plan to meet the state’s road and bridge infrastructure needs with existing resources.
“Minnesotans already are paying 47 cents per gallon in taxes and people I talk with in our district do not want to see it raised again," said Rep. Bud Nornes, R-Fergus Falls. "It was only in 2012 that the last gas-tax increase was fully implemented, so it seems a bit much to be going back to the taxpayers again with an increase that would make our gas tax one of the most expensive in the nation. The House plan shows we have the resources available to provide a boost in funding for our roads and bridges without raising taxes if we stick with it as a priority."
The House Republican offer released Wednesday puts additional dollars into highways, township roads, turnbacks and makes progress on rail safety. On the transit side, in an effort to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently and effectively, the House Republican compromise provides common-sense Met Council reforms.
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