The N&O today had this short article informing readers that the state's gas tax will remain at the maximum 29.9 cents per gallon for the first six months of 2009. Fair enough.
This line, however, doesn't quite paint the complete picture:
Revenue from the gas tax goes to highway projects around the state.
Perhaps they were trying to conserve space, but this statement is simply not accurate. As I documented here in August, the gas tax funds plenty of things other than "highway projects," including:
| Non-Road -Building Activities – Highway Fund |
|
| Highway Patrol DPI – Driver Training Ferry Operations Ferry Administration Railroad Program Public Transportation Airports Program Bicycle Program Rail Division Aeronautics Reserve for Air Cargo Reserve for Visitor Center Transportation Services for trade shows Subtotal |
$169,382,343 $33,949,682 $32,313,921 $1,256,511 $21,330,883 $83,593,512 $47,758,616 $1,105,756 $679,535 $2,036,786 $1,600,000 $400,000 $1,200,000 $396,607,545 |
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