W.Va. Road Fund Woes

The Associated Press reports that West Virginia finds itself in the company of most other states as it struggles to provide sufficient funding for its road repair and building budget.

A key problem is that many states, and the federal government, levy a gasoline/diesel tax as a user fee to raise highway revenue. But the National Conference of State Legislatures finds that the motor fuel tax rates had failed to keep up with inflation even before rising prices at the pump made new increases all but impossible.

The high costs are projected to reduce consumption. As a result, West Virginia is expecting $25.8 million less from its motor fuels tax this year than it generated last year.

The other states are finding no clear answers. Neighboring Virginia, for instance, just ended a special session devoted to transportation issues in a stalemate. Proposals include more tolls, privatizing tolls, and taxing motorists for vehicle miles traveled.

The Register-Herald of Beckley also reports on the State Road Fund's performance in the just-completed budget year.

Update: Both the Beckley newspaper and The Charleston Gazette have items on attempts by U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., to secure federal highway dollars for the Mountain State this year.