Support is building for a bill that would dedicate a percentage of sales tax each year toward building and maintaining roads.

Monday, members of a transportation budget committee unanimously voted to back efforts behind HB112, which would give $60 million in new dollars to transportation this year and another $130 million next year. The money would come from the state's general fund, which pays for programs like health and human services, courts and public safety.

Sponsoring Rep. Becky Lockhart, R-Provo, said she was pleased with the committee's support and is hopeful about the bill's chance for passage. She ran a similar bill last year, but it failed to pass in the waning minutes of the general session.

"I think that gave some time for me, quite frankly, to make my case and to better educate people about this bill," said Lockhart. The Salt Lake Chamber supports the concept behind her bill, but others, like the Utah Department of Transportation are taking a "wait and see" approach.

Rep. Dave Ure, R-Kamas, said during Monday's meeting that he was concerned lawmakers couldn't support efforts to increase transportation funding and support efforts to remove the sales tax from food.

But Lockhart said her bill forces transportation to become a priority for the state. During poor economic periods, the state has typically "borrowed" from transportation to fund other programs. The state is facing a $16.5 million deficit for road projects over the next 25 years, according to state transportation planners.

"This truly is saying that transportation is a priority," Lockhart said. "It's not just a savings account."

The bill does not require the governor to include the sales tax dedications in his budget — something he openly opposed in the bill that failed last year. Lockhart anticipates her bill will be up for vote in a standing committee near the end of the week.

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