Lawmakers consider bond proposal to address bridge woes

For months, Missouri lawmakers have debated how to fund much-needed repairs to the state’s bridges. The amount the state should borrow in bonds or spend from the general revenue fund have been central questions in the discussion.

On Wednesday, Republican Senator and Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz of St. Louis County defended the plan that was passed in the Senate in April to the House Budget Committee. The plan includes borrowing $301 Million in bonds and using about $46.5 million from general revenue.

“It’s a win-win for Missourians and anyone that travels along I-70,” Schatz told ABC 17 News Thursday.

The state also applied for a federal grant which, if received, would help fund the replacement of the I-70 over the Missouri River near Rocheport. This week, MoDOT announced that one eastbound lane of the bridge will close for several days starting Saturday for emergency repair.

Democratic Representative and Budget Committee member Kip Kendrick said he’s leaning in favor of the plan, but is deterred by some of its aspects.

Kendrick said, “what gives me the most heartburn is using general revenue to pay back the bonds.” However, the urgency of the bridge’s condition, he said, does warrant immediate attention.

“That I-70 traffic, even if it’s just pass through traffic, is important to the economic engine of Mid-Missouri as well as the entire state,” Kendrick said.

Both lawmakers admit the plan is short-term in nature, and does not satisfy the state’s need for a long-term funding source for transportation maintenance.

“This bonding proposal is only a small fix,” Schatz said. “We’re talking about a major system that we’re trying to take care of that obviously we don’t have the resources to do. We’re going to have a conversation about transportation funding in the future.”

“($300 Million in bonds is) really just a drop in the bucket on what we need for road and bridge infrastructure.” Kendrick said.

Proposition D, a proposal to increase in the state fuel tax, failed at the voting booth in November. Schatz and Kendrick said that revisiting the question of a tax increase will be necessary down the road.

“The general assembly should own all the blame for the failure of proposition D in 2018. The language was very confusing, it was just too cute.”

A joint House and Senate committee will discuss the proposed bonding plan next week, according to Kendrick.