'Softened' transportation bill OK'd

The bill "really sets an earmark," Huntsman said. "It doesn't commit us to anything in terms of real dollars."

Sponsoring Sen. Becky Lockhart, R-Provo, said she was disappointed. There is a deficit in transportation funding that will exceed $7 billion in the next 10 years — and lawmakers should set a goal to make up that deficit, she said.

Over the past four years, the state has borrowed money from the Centennial Highway Fund, which was designed to fund a list of specific transportation projects. The original HB1008 called for lawmakers to set a "benchmark" with sales tax diversions to pay off those old Centennial debts.

"I'm disappointed we couldn't come to an agreement with the governor's office on the importance of the 90 million and that we couldn't get the body to understand the importance of long range investing," said Lockhart. "But I'm pleased that we got the statute put in place."

The Transportation Investment Fund creates a mechanism for funding road projects not listed under Centennial. Money that does not go toward paying Centennial bonds would be given to the Investment Fund, which could pay for projects like the Mountain View Corridor.

Lawmakers like Lockhart pledge next year that a goal or "benchmark" for adding cash to that new transportation fund will be created. The Utah Taxpayers Association and state transportation planners are on-board with the plan.

"Utah's families and businesses will be subjected to massive tax increases unless additional ongoing general fund revenues are appropriated for transportation," reads a flier distributed by the Taxpayers Association.

While a tax increase may be likely in the future, Sen. Killpack said the original HB1008 was a fiscally conservative way to help fund transportation. He echoed Lockhart's assertion that it will be back next year.

"I really hope that next year during the general session we come back and do the right thing, that we codify money that is related to transportation to transportation," he said. "It isn't a far jump. I'm very hopeful that we'll do this right next year."

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Contributing: Josh Loftin; Lisa Riley Roche