Missouri will not be able to offset losses to social services, education and health care if a constitutional amendment passes aimed at increasing funding for road construction and repairs, Amendment 3 opponents say.
Representatives of social welfare agencies met yesterday in Ashland to rally against the proposal, which would require all vehicle sales tax revenue to be spent on roads. State budget officials say it would divert $187 million from general revenue over four years.
Proponents claim projected state revenue growth will compensate for any loss to general revenue.
A Washington Missourian article on the Amendment 3 summarizes the effect of the Amendment from the pro A-3 point of view:
the bulk of fuel taxes, vehicle taxes and fees paid by highway users would be used only for maintaining and constructing highways. Collection costs and highway patrol law enforcement costs still would be paid from the highway taxes and fees.
No tax increase is involved in Amendment 3.
Some of the money collected from these user fees and taxes would be used to issue additional bonds and pay them off. This is expected to accelerate many highway projects throughout the state without raising taxes.
The changes called for in the amendment would be phased in over a four-year period.
The Missouri Bicycle Federation's view on Amendment 3 was summarized in a Kansas City infoZine article. MoBikeFed's view can be summed up in four points:
Over the past 15 years or so, Missourians haven't paid much for roads and highways, and now we're getting what we paid for. Painful though it may be, this situation must be fixed, whether by Amendment 3 or some other way.
Amendment 3 is important for the future of Missouri. It is worth studying carefully before the election.
Voters should know that most who really understand the situation, including Amendment 3 supporters, say that Amendment 3 is just a start in solving Missouri's transportation funding problem. Even if Amendment 3 passes, more money--much more--will be needed in just a few years.
If the Amendment brings new funds to MoDOT then this new money must by used to create a transportation system that meets the needs of all Missourians, including bicyclists, pedestrians, transit users, and motorists.
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