Transportation Funding Increased by Idaho Legislature
As you likely know by now the legislature passed a funding increase for transportation as their last action before adjourning. There was no opportunity for public comment on the proposal as it was processed through a rare conference committee. The total package is estimated at $96 million in new transportation funding to be distributed 60% to ITD and 40% to cities, counties, and highway districts. Details of the bill are below.
Attempts to add provisions to fund Safe Routes to School and transit within the conference committee were unsuccessful. However there was a pledge from the transportation department to work with legislators to establish a safe routes to school program and to commit to building multimodal facilities.
We will be calling a meeting soon to discuss those and to outline how to continue to advocate for transit funding alternatives.
Fuels Tax Increases Increase fuels taxes by $0.07, estimated to collect $63.7 million and new revenues will be split 60/40 between ITD and local governments.
Increased Registration Fees Registration fees will increase for passenger vehicles by $21/year, for motorcycles by $9/year, for commercial trucks by $25/year. A new provision will establish a new registration fee for electric ($150/yr.) and hybrid vehicles ($100/yr.), depending on miles driven per year this may translate to higher tax increase than the fuel tax increase. These new registration fees are estimated to produce $32.56 million in new revenues, which will be split 60/40 between ITD and locals.
Strategic Initiative Program Any funds left over after meeting all of the State’s funding obligations will roll over into a special account to fund ITD’s strategic initiatives. This funding will all go to ITD 9none ot local governments) and the provision will sunset in two years. This is in addition to the $96 million and could be a significant amount.
Legislative Intent The compromise includes legislative intent language requesting the legislature to come up with a fair way to tax commercial trucks for wear and tear on the roads, with the intention of moving toward a weight/miles traveled model by 2019.
Watch for a notice for a meeting later this month as further information becomes available.
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