Wash. Fuel Tax Leads Number of Trucking Issues on Ballots

As voters go to the polls across the country Tuesday, they look at a number of issues close to the trucking industry, led by a possible 9-cent per gallon increase in fuel taxes in the state of Washington.

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported that Referendum 51, a measure that would generate an estimated $7.7 billion for highway construction and mass transit projects, was unlikely to pass according to polls taken in October.

The measure would raise gasoline and diesel taxes by 9 cents and raise truck weight fees by 30% as a part of an effort to make up for transportation budget shortfalls. Referendum 51 would also add a 1% surtax on car sales.

Several other states, including Alaska, Maine and Rhode Island have measures to allow the states to bond or borrow money for transportation projects.

Alaska and Rhode Island both have bond issues on the ballot – of $226.7 million and $63.5 million respectively.

Maine is seeking get a constitutional amendment to allow the state to borrow money in advance of federal highway aid, without having to ask voters for approval, the Portland Press Herald (Maine) reported.

In California, Proposition 51 will allow the state to allocate 30% of sales tax revenue generated on the sale of new and used vehicles to 45 different transportation and environmental projects statewide, the Los Angeles Times said. If it passes, $420 million in the next year will go toward transportation and an additional $910 million toward transportation in 2003-2004.

In New Mexico, the state Highway Commission is seeking again to change its name to the state Transportation Commission. This measure, according to the Albuquerque Journal, was soundly defeated in 1994. Proponents of the measure say the change would make the commission appear to be more inclusive of all transportation issues, while opponents simply claim it’s a waste of money.

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