GUEST VIEWPOINT: A CRISIS IN ACCOUNTABILITY -- MAYBE

As with so many issues in government, someone or several someones with their own agendas appear to be using the cover of a nonbinding, unelected commission appointed by the governor to propose a major change: implementation of a 1 percent state sales tax increase. Missouri's Total Transportation Commission spent over half a million dollars to deliver earlier this month a report (almost six months late) asking lawmakers to put this $575 million tax-hike question on this November's ballot (after lawmakers just passed a law eliminating the state general sales tax on food). The money would fund a plan for unspecified projects in all areas of transportation: highways, bridges, aviation and mass transit.

The TTC appears to be declaring a crisis shortfall in transportation revenue which will cause highway work to grind to a halt without more money. Before we buy this package, though, we should ask a few simple questions. First, in 1992 the highway department pledged itself to a 15-year building program for specific roads and bridges at an estimated cost of $14 billion. Now the department says the plan will be $14 billion underfunded by the year 2010. We need to ask: Are we really $14 billion over the cost on a $14 billion plan?

Next, what happened to this money which was supposed to build roads ("Show me the roads)?

Third, why are the 1987 Proposition A projects promised to voters in exchange for a 4-cent gas-tax hike still not completed, bearing in mind additional pledges were made in 1992 to expedite completion of these roads?

What accountability does the transportation department have to voters to keep its promises?

And, lastly, what all is in this new plan? Some people feel the TTC plan is an attempt to shift money from roads to mass transit. We did drop the word "highways" from the name of the department in charge of highways (the Missouri Highways and Transportation Department) and rename it the Missouri Department of Transportation. Are we sure we want to do for Missouri's mass transit what we've done so far for Missouri roads and highways?

Highways in Missouri are primarily funded from motor fuel taxes, license fees and driving penalties. In Missouri, this money is constitutionally protected. In other words, your elected lawmakers courtesy-budget it, but we can't cut it or redirect it when we find things wrong in transportation. It just automatically goes to the transportation department without oversight. And we know there have been spending problems. State law stipulated that the 15-year program road-tax money could not be spent on administration, yet a 1994 audit and its 1996 follow-up stated nearly $6 million was used for administration. Our real problem may just turn out to be a crisis in accountability. Three new audits are being performed on the transportation department and the 15-year program, and it is hoped these will be available in late July or early August.

The current transportation discussions leave no doubt that Missouri is a great state with far-reaching transportation needs. Missouri citizens need to be aware of any attempt to shift dollars away from promised highway projects to mass transit projects. There is a huge gap between promises made in 1987 and 1992 and in the fulfillment of those promises. Legislators, including myself, have twice supported the concept of higher taxes for specific improvements in Missouri roads and bridges. Do we now want to trade new tax dollars for more promises? House Republicans are committed to meeting all the state's transportation needs in an accoutable manner. Alternatives include setting priorities for transportation needs in future budgets using natural growth in the budget to fund transportation and by making sure that all road money goes to roads, not administration and other agencies.

Let's cure our real crisis, the crisis of accountability.

Delbert L. Scott of Lowry City is a Republican state representative from District 119 and serves as the minority floor leader in the House of Representatives.