Without the levy, the deterioration of state roads would damage the economy.
I understand that a few people in Auburn are looking into doing away with the “indexing” of the fuel tax. The fuel indexing law was passed by the Maine Legislature two years ago as a way to ensure that sufficient revenue is available to pay for the repair of bridges and roads throughout the state.
Opponents to the indexing of the fuel tax say that the legislation put fuel tax increases on autopilot. This is not accurate.
First, the fuel tax increase is no more automatic than the sales tax, which remains constant at 5 percent. As the price of goods goes up with inflation, so does the amount of tax people must pay on those goods. The fuel tax is a flat amount – currently 22 cents per gallon of gasoline regardless of the price of gasoline.
Secondly, the law requires the Maine Department of Transportation to submit legislation every two years giving the Legislature the option to repeal the indexing of the fuel tax, so there is no autopilot as those who object to the law have claimed.
As many of us are well aware, several of Maine’s roads are in bad condition. The Legislature and the Maine Department of Transportation have a plan for upgrading the state’s rural arterials by 2009. About half the state’s 3,488 miles of major collector highways and three-quarters of 2,227 miles of minor collectors are substandard.
Improving Maine’s highways is not only a great investment, but it is also vital to the state’s economy. We need a healthy infrastructure for people to get to work, to transport goods and to accommodate the tourist industry.
An overwhelming majority of the members of the Legislature’s Transportation Committee – both Republicans and Democrats – agreed that fuel tax indexing is necessary to pay for our highway program. Letting Maine roads deteriorate and then drastically hiking up the gas tax to pay for their repair is counterproductive and would cost more in the long run.
Regular, small and predictable increases to the gas tax ensure that Maine’s infrastructure is maintained.
Rep. Sonya Sampson, D-Auburn, serves on the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
