The Iowa State Association of Counties says it’s time for the legislature to raise the gas tax to pay for road and bridge repair. ISAC, which represents the state’s 99 county boards of supervisors, prepares an annual list of legislative priorities. Executive director Bill Peterson says a gas tax increase is needed to fix Iowa’s deteriorating highway infrastructure.
"We understand it comes at an difficult time as gas prices are increasing," Peterson says, "but when you fail to put investments into the system, tragedies like the one that happened in Minneapolis occur." In additional to raising the gas tax, ISAC is supporting an increase in licensing fees on pickup trucks.
Peterson says, "We know which bridges need to be replaced, but there aren’t the fiscal resources at the state, county, or city level to replace all the failing infrastructure." Peterson says it’s "ridiculous" that truck owners can register their pick up for $65 while others pay five to six times that amount and drive a more fuel efficient vehicle.
Other ISAC legislative priorities include property tax reform, new sex offender legislation, and more money for paper-ballot voting machines, mental health treatment, and broadband internet installation.