LAWMAKERS SCRUTINIZING ALL ASPECTS OF GAS TAX PLAN

Quick passage of a proposed 6-cent increase in the state's fuel tax will likely hinge on two factors: one, whether legislators are satisfied the full amount is needed and that the highway department can follow through on its 15-year program, and, two, whether proponents of an additional 1-cent for mass transit can be satisfied.

The proposal, which has the support of Republican Gov. John Ashcroft and the top Democratic leaders of the House and Senate, would phase in a 6-cent gas tax increase between now and 1996.

The funds would be used to match federal gas tax money and help complete a massive list of road and bridge projects around the state that have been identified as priorities.

Proponents of the measure are ask~ing lawmakers to approve it without going to a vote of the people to insure there will be funds available for the 1992 construction season.

Two weeks ago, calls for additional funding for mass transit helped force a delay in an expected vote by the House Transportation Committee to send the measure to the floor.

Last week, the committee sent the measure to the floor, realizing there would be attempts to amend it to provide funding for mass transit and to send the measure to a public vote. At the same time, as many legislators reviewed information from highway officials, they began asking questions and seeking clarification of several issues.

Proponents of the bill decided to delay floor action for a week to give legislators more time to seek public input and to have their questions answered.

The Missouri Public Transit Association has been asking for an additional one-cent fuel tax increase to fund public transportation. Bill Osborne of Poplar Bluff, president of the group, points out that Missouri is one of only seven states that does not allocate some of its state gas tax money for mass transit.

However, the Missouri constitution allows the fuel tax to be used only for highways and it would take a constitutional amendment to allocate the 1 cent, explained Steve Forsythe of the Missouri Highway and Transportation Dept.

"The department has said it would be neutral on a 1 cent for mass transit, but has indicated it is separate from the 6 cents that we need for our program," he noted.

Missouri's constitution also provides for 15 percent of the state fuel tax collected to be allocated to cities for road and bridge needs, and 10 percent to counties.

The 6-cent increase would generate 50 percent additional revenue for cities and counties in Missouri.

Osborne pointed out that the 1-cent tax would generate $30 million annually for mass transit. About $24 million of the funds would go to support light rail and other transportation projects in St. Louis and Kansas City.

The remaining $6 million would be available for transportation programs outside the metropolitan areas, including to organizations like the Southeast Missouri Transportation System that serves the elderly and handicapped.

House Speaker Bob Griffin and Transportation Committee Chairman Don Koller have agreed to push a constitutional amendment to benefit mass transit, but have stressed the importance of keeping the issues separate.

However, several urban legislators have warned they will attempt to amend the bill next week to include a provision for mass transit.

Missouri Chief Highway Engineer Wayne Muri has been meeting with legislators to explain the plan and resolve any questions they have about the 6-cent proposal.

"Wayne is making himself available to legislators this week," said Forsythe. He noted that there are a lot of questions, but stressed Muri is anxious to help lawmakers develop a clear understanding of the plan.

"The first 2 cents are needed now to get the federal aid that is available and to start the projects that are in the program," said Forsythe. "By 1994 the federal portion that is available will have increased to the point where we will need 2 cents for that and to continue projects in the program."

Forsythe said the final 2 cents, which would take effect in 1996, are needed to complete the 15-year package of projects because federal money alone is not enough to complete all the projects in the plan.

Several legislators have questioned the likelihood of being able to complete the 15-year plan when the newly passed federal highway bill that distributes federal fuel taxes is for a six-year period.

But Forsythe explained, "That's the way it has always been done. To use Proposition A as an example, that was a 15-year program also and that was with a five-year federal program. It takes several years to complete a project from inception to the final piece being dropped into place.

"If we are going to do the kind of work that needs to be done, we have to work with a long lead time, just as we did with Proposition A projects."

Forsythe said the 15-year plan being proposed "assumes the federal funding would be at least as much as it is under the present program. Generally, this is based on our past experience with the federal program."

If Rep. Mark Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff, is any indication, Muri's meetings this week with legislators are beneficial to the proposal.

Last Wednesday, Richardson and a few other representatives met for more than two hours with Muri to resolve questions they had.

"It was a very good meeting and elevated my opinion of Wayne Muri considerably," said Richardson. "I have now taken a firm position of the issue. I am going for the straight 6-cents, without going to a vote. I will oppose any amendments to the bill on the floor."

He added, "It is a good plan, the money is needed and the request is reasonable. The highway department can account for why they need it."

While he has heard strong support for the 6 cents in his district, Richardson said there is strong opposition to funding mass transit.

"As strong as my voters have been in favor of 6 cents for the 15 year plan, they have been equally vocal in opposition to spending money for mass transit," he observed.

Richardson admits some legislators will have a hard time bypassing a vote of the people. But, he declared: "We often lack courage to say no, but more often than not we lack the courage to say yes."