Study: Local highway jurisdictions need local-option tax authority
The state's Local Highway Technical Assistance Council held a "local highway efficiency summit" in October and completed a study of efficiency at Idaho's local highway districts. The results, LHTAC administrator Lance Holmstrom told the governor's transportation task force this morning, showed that "local highway jurisdictions are actually doing quite well" at meeting an efficiency standard of addressing 1/20th of paved miles in their jurisdictions each year. However, the study found that they need more funding to do sufficient reconstruction and rehab on roads and bridges to avoid continued deterioration. It also found that additional funding should be based on needs in specific jurisdictions, not just spread around to all. The study's recommendations included giving local highway jurisdictions "authority to develop alternative funding options," such as local-option sales taxes.