FARM BUREAU CHIEF INSISTS STATE KEEP ROAD PROMISES

Missouri Farm Bureau president Charles Kruse says he has learned a new phrase from the Total Transportation Commission. He calls it "Project Creep."

Addressing the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce's First Friday Coffee at the Show Me Center Friday, Kruse said Project Creep is partially blamed for the tremendous deficit cited by the commission in the state's 15-year highway program.

"The 15-year plan was a promise made to the people of this state in 1992, and it's a promise that must be kept," Kruse said.

Farm Bureau supported the plan when it was initiated and still supports it, said Kruse.

"We shouldn't let the state renege on a promise made in exchange for taxes Missourians have paid for five years and continue to pay today," said Kruse.

A 6-cent-a-gallon fuel tax hike is intended for the program.

The governor's special transportation commission, referred to as the TCC, has said the 15-year plan for highways is underfunded by $14 billion mostly because backers didn't add the cost of inflation and changes in the scope of projects.

The commission has recommended a 1-cent sales tax increase to finance an array of transportation projects.

"The TTC never really addressed the key issues of the 15-year plan," said Kruse. "They want to throw it out and start all over. It's little wonder that people are becoming more cynical."

Project Creep comes into play when projects are started that result in higher costs than previously expected, said Kruse. "But surely some projects have come in under budget," he said.

Included in the TTC's predicted $14 billion deficit is an allowance for 4.5 percent inflation.

"The TTC is correct in saying no inflation factor was included in the prediction costs," said Kruse. "But since 1980 highway construction costs have been flat."

The people still support the 15-year plan, he said.

A poll conducted by Missouri Farm Bureau at the Missouri State Fair at Sedalia indicated 70 percent of those participating favored the 15-year plan, he said. But 70 percent also opposed the 1-cent sales tax, said Kruse.

"You would think if Missourians supported the 15-year highway plan they would also support a 1-cent sales tax for transportation," said Kruse. "This highlights the real gap that exists with the work of the TTC over the past several months."

Kruse said he thought people would understand if another two or three years is needed to complete the plan. "But the state needs to be up front with the people," he said. "Public hearings should be conducted to explain any changes."

Farm Bureau had a representative on the 34-member TTC. In most cases, Farm Bureau's member, Estil V. Fretwell, the bureau's director of public affairs, stood alone in some of his suggestions, said Kruse.

Kruse said the Missouri Office of Administration recently indicated that the claimed shortfall in the plan doesn't exist, but the TTC has continually declined to address the plan's issues.

"What all of this really narrows down to is that St. Louis needs more transportation money," Kruse told the crowd.

"Transportation funds for the 15-year plan were allotted in accordance with vehicle miles driven," he said. The allotment to St. Louis was 26 percent of the funds, said Kruse. St. Louis wanted more, which means rural areas, regardless of vehicle miles driven, would get less, he said.