Today there two presentations on the gas tax at the General Assembly. One was delivered in a Joint Transportation Appropriations Committee meeting by Mark Foster, NCDOT Chief Financial Officer. At the exact same time in House Finance a staff member from General Assembly fiscal research was giving a primer on the gas tax to committee members. He will continue his presentation next week when the Finance Committee meets again.
I have learned that the House Appropriations Chairs (the Big Chairs, as we refer to them) have put the gas tax on the table for discussion. I was told by one of those chairs that they do not want to give up that revenue but feel “political pressure” to cap or cut the tax. I was also told that they want to find $100 million inside the DOT budget to re-direct to construction and maintenance. I explained that capping the gas tax would completely negate the $100 million increase. And I told him that capping the gas tax will result in lost jobs.
I am trying to meet with all the “Big Chairs” of Appropriations and Finance to carry that same message. I have appointments set up with most of them and will keep you posted on what I learn.
Tomorrow the Governor will release her budget. I will let you know what the highlights are – especially in transportation.