Tax Hike May Be Needed For Plan

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Mary Turkington, the former executive director of the Kansas Motor Carriers Association, has been serving the state in her retirement by heading up Gov. Bill Graves’ Transportation 2000 task force.

Turkington reported to the Kansas House Appropriations Committee at the end of January that the idea of a tax increase for transportation met acceptance with everyone who spoke at 12 town hall meetings the task force held across the state last year.

"I think everybody who testified understood we can’t have these dollars without paying for them," she said.

Turkington said the state could raise money by issuing long-term bonds, transferring revenue from sales taxes and increasing user fees, such as fuel taxes and vehicle registration. Transportation spending will exceed revenues by the end of fiscal 2002 if the Legislature does not approve additional funding.

Transportation 2000 recommended adding $4.3 billion to the current transportation program, while Graves proposed a $2.4 billion increase in funding for highways, rails, airports and mass transit.

Turkington described Graves’ plan as a good starting point, but she said it would not meet the needs she heard addressed at the town hall meetings.