Oregon, Arkansas Could Be Heading Away From Weight-Distance Taxes

Related Stories Senate Panel endorses fuel tax hike, truck tax not debated. (March 11) Oregon's weight-distance tax could ride into the sunset this year. (Feb. 9) (Note: To return to this story, click the "Back" button on your browser.)

Weight-distances taxes were on the legislative burner in two states last week.

Oregon lawmakers are being asked to put an end to the state’s 50-year-old weight-distance tax. For the first time, a repeal is likely to be considered as part a highway funding package.

Highway spending legislation is moving forward in Arkansas — without a provision to reinstate a ton-mile tax, similar to one tossed out several years ago.

The Arkansas Senate is weighing a bill developed in the House that would raise the tax on diesel and gasoline and raise virtually the same amount of money as a proposed 3.5-cent-per-mile weight tax.

With a bond issue, the House plan generates $55 million a year to repair Arkansas roads. It is based on Gov. Mike Huckabee’s bill to increase the state motor fuels tax by 3 cents a gallon.

The weight-distance tax bill offered by state Sen. Cliff Hoofman was scheduled to come before the Senate March 10, but he had trouble rounding up support and did not bring it to the floor for a vote.

The Oregon Trucking Associations, meanwhile, is behind a bill that would install a diesel fuel tax on truckers to make up for revenue lost with repeal of the nation’s first and oldest weight-distance tax.

The exact amount of a diesel tax has yet to be determined.

“It looks very, very favorable at this point, because for the first time we are included in the transportation package being considered by the legislature. In the past, our diesel fuel tax proposal has been outside the principal transportation package,” said Robert E. Russell, director of government affairs for OTA.

For the full story, see the March 15 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.