Norris asks governor to restore transportation funds

August 30, 2005
BILL HILES for the Dyersburg State Gazette

State Sen. Mark Norris is asking Gov. Phil Bredesen to restore motor fuel taxes to the Tennessee Transportation Department budget.

"With state revenues back in surplus, I think it is time for the governor to restore full funding of the transportation budget in next year's budget," Norris, R-Collierville, said Tuesday during a visit to Dyersburg. "Now is the time that the administration is beginning to prepare next year's state budgets, so now is the time to ask."

Funding for operations of the state transportation department comes almost totally from "user fees" collected by the state and federal governments. They include vehicle registration fees, gasoline and diesel fuel taxes, airline ticket taxes and other fees and taxes paid by individuals and private companies that use the transportation system.

In a letter dated Aug. 22 to Bredesen, Norris noted that the governor now has addressed the problems withholding the transportation funds was designed to address.

"Since you became governor, more than $217 million generated from user fees for transportation have been diverted for other state needs which you have addressed," Norris wrote. "At the same time, Tennessee's infrastructure needs have continued to grow and have increased by $7.8 billion (57 percent) to $21.6 billion since you took office.

"According to the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations on which I have served during the period in question, the largest increase in need during this time, from $8.3 billion to $9.1 billion, has been in transportation and utilities. Transportation needs alone represent $8.1 billion (about 38 percent) of Tennessee's total infrastructure needs."

Noting that the governor says he intends to restore local funds withheld to address the state's budget crisis in next year's budget, Norris asked Bredesen also to restore transportation department funds.

"Much of the increase is attributable to the transportation needs of local governments which were also hit hard by your decision to withhold state-shared taxes," he wrote. "I understand that these revenues will be fully restored in next year's budget. Now is the time to do likewise in transportation."

Finally, Norris pointed out that the state must increase matching funds to claim an increased portion of federal transportation funds.

"The Transportation Equity Act recently signed into law by President Bush was the result of many years of effort by elected officials at all levels. In the final analysis, thanks to Senators (Bill) Frist and (Lamar) Alexander, Tennessee is guaranteed growth in federal transportation funding of not less than 19 percent. Now is the time to budget for the increase in state matching funds which will be required if we are to embrace this opportunity to invest in the future."

Norris said Thursday he has not had a response from Bredesen.

"It's probably too early for him to respond since I just sent the letter on Monday," he said. "I just want this to be considered in the budget-making process."

Norris, chairman of the Senate Transportation and Safety Committee, represents Dyer, Lauderdale, Tipton and part of Shelby County.