New tax increase for Missouri’s roads and bridges on the horizon

A new tax increase for Missouri’s roads and bridges is on the horizon…even as the state transportation continues trying to patch potholes in public confidence in its programs. The last fuel tax increase was for the the now-discredited 15-year highway plan. The political fallout of the plan’s shortcomings has left the transportation department struggling to regain the confidence of local officials throughout Missouri and with legislators. The legislature is likely to approve a two-billion-dollar bond issue this year to help the department build some things that could help it regain credibility. Sedalia Senator Jim Mathewson has told the Senate he’ll put a total transportation package together for next year’s session. There are no specifics on what taxes would be increased…or how much any increases would be, though.