Several measures renewed at the Massachusetts statehouse could give a shot in the arm for local road funding.
Massachusetts now has an excise tax of 24 cents a gallon on gasoline and diesel purchases.
While elected officials await approval of a transport funding plan to aid road works across the state, several bills in the legislature focus on improving local revenues.
Fuel taxes for local options
A bill would authorize a local option tax on gas and diesel. In particular, each city or municipality could decide to impose up to 3 cents excise tax on fuel sales.
A third of the income would be used for road and bridge maintenance, repair, maintenance, construction or improvement of roads, bridges, sidewalks, cycle paths, public parking lots or road drainage.
The same amount of money would be earmarked for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority or the regional transportation authority serving the city or town. The rest would be used for other transportation purposes.
Measure H3039 is on the Joint Committee on Revenue. In 2020, the committee voted to submit the bill to the House Ways and Means Committee, but it did not come for consideration. The version demanded up to 5 cents excise duty on fuel sales.
The Revenue Committee recently heard testimony on a bill that would scrap approval for a local option tax in the city of Charlton. The Worcester County's Interstate 90 locale could add up to 3 cents in additional excise tax on gasoline and diesel.
The bill, S1872, remains on committee.
Questions about traffic coordination
Another option for road financing is being considered in the Statehouse.
The first bill would provide a way for local communities to raise funds for regional transport projects. In particular, S1899 would allow local voting to ask regional voters whether to collect revenue for transportation work.
A similar bill, H2978, would provide the same authority for regional transport.
Another bill, S2265, contains a provision to allow voting initiatives for local and regional transport.
More than half of all federal states give regional voters the power to decide on questions of transport financing.
Local roads are being strengthened
In the absence of a major transportation finance deal, Governor Charlie Baker signed a bill a year ago to secure additional funding for local road and bridge projects.
As a result, the state is empowered to lend $ 200 million to improve municipal roads and bridges. The funds are distributed through Chapter 90 grants.
The grants are sent to cities in Massachusetts for reimbursement for approved projects. It is a 100% refundable program.
Proponents say funds are critical to every town and town across the Commonwealth. NS