MoDOT work under budget for FY 2001

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Actual costs for state highway and bridge projects completed in fiscal year 2001 were 1.4 percent lower than estimated, a legislative committee was told Tuesday.

Missouri Department of Transportation director Henry Hungerbeeler cited that figure as evidence the department is doing a responsible and efficient job in maximizing its nearly $1.8 billion annual budget.

Hungerbeeler made his comments while presenting an auditor's report on MoDOT's finances to the Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight. The department is required to submit such a report, which was prepared by a private firm at a cost of $235,000, to the committee each November.

Lawmakers offered little criticism of MoDOT's financial management in questioning Hungerbeeler about the report.

During the 2001 fiscal year, which ended June 30, MoDOT completed 169 projects at a cost of $532 million, a savings of $7.6 million from the estimated cost of those projects.

Contract costs are running about 4.5 percent ahead of estimates for projects currently in progress. Those contracts total roughly $1.63 billion, though were estimated at about $1.56 billion.

However, the report said fluctuations in costs are to be expected as projects progress. Hungerbeeler said department are hopeful final costs will come in at or below the estimates.

Still needs more money

Though Hungerbeeler said MoDOT is doing an excellent job with the money it has, he repeated his plea to lawmakers for additional revenue. Hungerbeeler has long maintained the department needs at least another $1 billion more annually to address all of the state's transportation needs.

Road and bridge work has been proceeding at a record pace thanks to an infusion of bond revenue approved by the General Assembly in 2000. MoDOT issued $250 million in bonds for fiscal year 2001 and $400 million for fiscal year 2002. Hungerbeeler said the department will seek lawmaker approval in January of another $450 million in bonds for fiscal year 2003, which begins July 1.

After that, Hungerbeeler said he won't recommend the department continue to issue bonds without a guarantee of additional revenue to pay them off.

Most of the questions from committee members concerned a topic not covered by the report -- the possibility that MoDOT may close some of its 370 maintenance facilities around the state.

State Sen. Danny Staples, D-Eminence, said he was concerned such closures could harm service and cost highway workers in his legislative district their jobs.

Hungerbeeler said many of the smaller facilities aren't efficient and could be consolidated with others to save money. However, he said the matter is still being studied and no specific sites have yet been targeted for closure. If facilities are closed, Hungerbeeler said workers would be transferred to another site and not lose their jobs.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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