Legislative budget writers have nixed a DOT plan to eliminate a deficit, by scaling back road work. Lower than expected registration fees and fuel taxes have resulted in a 33 million dollar deficit in the transportation agency’s segregated fund for road development and maintenance. But Joint Finance Committee member, Senate Judy Robson, noted increased revenues may already be in the pipeline. “We just finished the Cash for Clunkers which is very successful, so there are a lot of new vehicles being purchased, and a lot of regsitration fees,” said Robson. “I think that we’ll see an increase in the amount that the DOT has.”
“Given the fact that they could wind up with more potential savings on bids, or additional dollars coming in on registrations, or a lot of other things that could happen, that could easily make up the difference,” said JFC co-chair, state Representative Mark Pocan. “It just didn’t make any sense to stop the jobs right now.”
The DOT will only have to come up with an alternate plan if segregated fund develops a deficit of greater than 30 million dollars in the current two year budget cycle.
