Senate Bill would increase gas tax

The Senate Committee for Transportation, Infrastructure, and Public Safety heard testimony Wednesday morning about Senate Bill 623. The bill would increase tax for unleaded gas by one and one half cents per gallon, and three and one half cents for a gallon of diesel.

The gas tax has not increased since 1997 when it was set to 17 cents per gallon. The money helps fund MoDOT’s budget to keep roads and bridges safe. The sponsor of the bill, Senator Libla, said in his testimony Missouri can not have economic development without proper infrastructure.

The director of MoDOT, Patrick McKenna, also testified in support of the bill. He says Missouri is 7th in the U.S. as far as miles of roads, but only 47th in the U.S. in funding them. McKenna said with cars becoming more fuel efficient there is less gas tax revenue.

Only one person testified against the bill who represented the Missouri Alliance for Freedom.

Senator Libla said this is not a new way to make money for MoDOT, but an adjustment to what the state has been doing for the last 92 years.

The committee will vote on the bill Wednesday morning, January 20th.