Graves puts transportation group to work

Governor reconvenes study commission to lobby to keep highway program intact

Topeka ? Gov. Bill Graves is concerned enough about transportation funding that he’s reconvened one of his old study commissions to lobby against potential cuts.

Graves revived the Transportation 2000 group, even though legislators approved a package of increases in motor fuels taxes and vehicle registration fees this year to prevent a shortfall in the state’s 10-year transportation program.

The governor appointed the group in 1998 to lobby for a program of highway, airport, shortline railroad and public transit system improvements.

The commission disbanded after legislators approved a $13.6 billion program, mostly for highway projects, the next year.

The group has scheduled four public hearings: Wednesday in Fort Scott, Oct. 8 in Overland Park, Oct. 17 in Dodge City, and Oct. 23 in Wichita.

“Where we are, we are fine as long as all the promises made are kept,” Marty Matthews, Kansas Department of Transportation spokesman, said Wednesday.

The 1999 legislation increases motor fuels taxes and led the state to issue nearly $1 billion in bonds to finance projects. It also required the state to set aside $862 million in sales tax revenues in a 10-year period for transportation.

This year’s tax package is expected to raise $338 million during the next seven years. Motor fuel taxes increased 2 cents on July 1, to 23 cents per gallon for gasoline and 25 cents per gallon for diesel fuel.

Registration fees for most cars increased $5, to $30; for light trucks and some sport utility vehicles, the increase also was $5, to $40.

Legislators, faced with the state’s budget problems, however, didn’t set aside any sales tax revenues this year. Instead, they diverted $147 million to other programs.

Matthews said Graves, who leaves office in January, was concerned that legislators again would divert the sales tax revenue to other programs because of the state’s financial problems.

Matthews said the hearings were designed to let Kansans know that if legislators take sales tax money, “You can’t complete the program we passed in ’99.”