Fuel tax may be funding solution to repairing flood-damaged roads

As the water recedes back into the Missouri river in the counties to our west, the destruction is becoming evident.  

In addition to the terrible affect on the lives of our neighbors, the water has destroyed buildings, land and roads.  

The funding of the repair of roads and infrastructure will become a concern of all Iowans as we determine how to pay for the rebuilding. I don't think we can rely on the federal government to fully fund the repairs and I know the State and County budgets don't have any excess funds.  

One possible solution would be to enact a temporary increase in the fuel tax.  

A fuel tax increase would ensure that the road repairs are funded by all who use them and not just funded by property owners or funds that have been pulled from other programs.

No one likes a tax increase of any kind, but the Missouri River flooding has done unprecedented damage and paying a few cents more per gallon of fuel is minor compared to what some in the flood zone have gone through.

Submitted by,
Will Frazee, President
Montgomery County Farm Bureau