State Senate Considers Stopping Diversion Of Gas Tax Money From MoDOT

State Senators are considering a plan to reduce the diversion of gas tax funds away from the State Transportation Department to other agencies. Senator Jon Dolan of the St. Louis area, the sponsor in the Senate, says about $300-Million of the gas tax is diverted to agencies like the Revenue Department, the Office of Administration, and the State Auditor. He does favor keeping the diversion for the State Highway Patrol. Dolan says his bill to end the diversion will give the public more faith that their gas tax dollars are being spent on fixing roads and opens the door to asking for more money for MoDOT in the future. Dolan says the plan would be phased in over several years starting in 2005 to soften the blow to affected agencies, but he says it needs to happen as soon as possible.