Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Wednesday, September 7, 2011
(STATEHOUSE) - A joint legislative study committee is looking into the state’s infrastructure issues and solutions.
Indiana Association of Highway Engineers President John Ayers says many counties have held off or totally abandoned road repairs due to a lack of funding.
He says counties are using quicker fix methods to deal with road issues, other than using long term solutions. Ayers says 47 Indiana counties currently use wheel tax money, which makes up of 60% of the state's population, but he says it's not a cure-all.
Indianapolis Democrat Ed Delaney says the federal government needs to help states by making a deal on the federal highway bill, or else state's will receive one-third less road funding. Delaney says the state has a tax structure "built upon the needs of the 1950's" and the state needs to look at farmers receiving a sales tax exemption from buying fuel.
Republican Mike Speedy of Indianapolis says raising taxes is currently not being discussed, but they need to find the depth of the problems before the best solutions can be considered.
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