One of the oldest policy soap operas in Virginia politics is what, oh what, to do about the state’s roads. The highway and byway network is commonly categorized as “crumbling,” “traffic-clogged,” sclerotic,” and, on better days, as merely horrible. In political circles, the problem all boils down to money, as in there’s not enough of it. And so it came as little surprise to see another group of politicians call for a hike in the gas tax.
Just in case you haven’t followed the gas tax debate closely: the fee was last raised during the Baliles administration in 1986 to its current 17.5 cents per gallon. Inflation has eroded the tax’s purchasing power and increasing fuel economy has diminished receipts, even though more cars are driving more miles today than when the tax was last raised.
So it needs to go up to correct matters, right? Well, some politicians say yes. And to avoid having to cast additional votes to raise it in the future, they often prefer to index the tax either to inflation or increasing fuel economy standards. You know, sort of like what Congress did for its pay raises: put them on auto-pilot.
But drivers aren’t keen on paying a higher gas tax. They have every reason not to, as Richmond has done little to earn their trust when it comes to spending the money it already collects. Remember that VDOT audit Gov. McDonnell commissioned? It found nearly $1.5 billion in unclaimed and unspent funds. Even by government standards, that’s a lot of money. But Virginians were repeatedly told that another audit would find nothing. It was a waste of time. Bring on the gas tax hike!
The exercise wasn’t a waste and if anything fed the idea that simply handing the state more money, supposedly to build and maintain roads, would be foolish.
But the bigger story than how much money VDOT will have to spend is where those funds might be spent. In the briefing, lawmakers were told that they need to set priorities – this road first, then that bridge, and then that crossing. Setting priorities isn’t their strong suit. As we learn from the report, it might set rural and urban legislators at odds. Oh, the humanity.
Priorities, though, should be at the heart of any rational transportation plan. As Heritage Foundation transportation expert Ron Utt has noted:
With no clear mission, none of the many players in a state’s transportation system can be held accountable for the performance of the transportation program, thereby allowing a costly state of mediocrity to thrive.
So before Virginia’s pols get too excited about raising the gas tax, they first need to regain the taxpayers’ trust. The Governor’s audit showed a system lacking accountability. He’s working to correct that. He would be helped immensely if VDOT also had a clear set of priorities.
Clean-up the process. Set objectives. Then ask for money. That’s how it works in the private sector. It can work for Virginia’s state-run road network, too.
