Iowa gas tax debate: Let users pay for roads

The street in front of my home in Early is deteriorating. In fact, there's a 10-yard-long section where grass grows through the cracked surface.

In the past, entire streets would be seal coated annually, then it became select blocks and, in the last couple of years, specific spots. Revenue is inadequate for maintenance, much less any significant improvements.

The trajectory is similar in other Iowa towns as revenue for transportation infrastructure has failed to meet basic needs. Despite record funds available for construction last year, the impact of increased construction costs means fewer miles are built and projects programmed. Tragically, counties and cities are borrowing for transportation projects.

A report from the Iowa League of Cities reveals bonds, notes, and short-term loans accounted for about 23 percent of cities' total revenues for street purposes in FY13, totaling $200 million in debt for that year. Their report goes on to say city expenditures including both principal and interest on street debt for that year topped $262 million statewide.

About 39 percent of Iowa cities have some outstanding debt for street purposes, according to that report. Both the number of local governments incurring transportation debt and the total amount of that debt has been increasing. A survey conducted by the Iowa State Association of Counties tells us there are 29 counties with transportation debt as well.

Repayment of such debt falls completely on the shoulders of property tax payers. Not drivers. Without an increase in transportation infrastructure revenue, this trend will only continue.

Property tax payers - not drivers - are shouldering huge debt which will only grow without a long-term, constitutionally protected road/bridge construction revenue plan. This is unfair.

Property tax payers are obligated to contribute to retiring transportation debt. Too often, the project they pay for has a useful life which is shorter than the term of the bonds.

Conversely, we all can control the gallons of fuel we consume through adjusting miles driven and miles per gallon of our vehicles.

As the legislature considers possible solutions, I encourage those who oppose any type of tax increase to realize inaction has resulted in exactly that already. Iowa property tax owners have been forced to bear costs that should have come from users of our transportation network. Other burdensome costs come from increased vehicle maintenance due to poor road conditions.

Iowa State University Associate Scientist in Economics David Swenson estimates a 10 cent per gallon increase in the fuel tax would cost the average Iowan $80 per year.

As a conservative, I abhor waste, fraud and tax increases. However, as a property tax payer, proud Iowan and driver, I realize we cannot maintain what we have, increase capacity or improve safety if we do not address this issue.

We have an obligation as citizens to invest in the infrastructure which supports and drives our economy. I believe Iowans, and those from out-of-state who purchase fuel here, should pay for the transportation facilities we use.

' Ann Trimble-Ray is vice president of opportunities at Heartland Marketing Group, an agency working with the US 20 Corridor Association advocating for statewide four-lane US 20, and a member of the Governor's Transportation 2020 Citizens Advisory Commission (2011). Comments: anntrimbleray@gmail.com